Sudan’s Bashir sworn in as president

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has been sworn in as head of state for a new term following his win in last month’s election.

Bashir won the country’s first multi-party election, which had been boycotted by opposition parties, which accused him of vote fraud prior to the polls.

The president now has to deal with the deteriorating situation in the western Darfur region, while the calls for independence in the south are growing louder, the BBC reported.

Khartoum plans to hold a referendum on the issue of disintegration next year.

The vote has been promised as part of a peace deal between the south-based Sudan Liberation Movement and the government.