[16/January/2010]
KHARTOUM, Jan. 16 (Saba) -- The Sudanese National Elections Commission (NEC) on Saturday confirmed that there was no item in the Sudanese constitution granting military staff the right to run for the elections, the Miraya FM Radio reported, according to Xinhua on Saturday.
Chairman of the electoral register at the NEC, Mukhtar al-Asam was quoted as saying that "the NEC has sent a message to the president of the southern Sudanese government, Salva Kiir Mayardit, notifying him that military men are not allowed to run for the coming elections."
"This matter is abiding to all military forces in Sudan," he added.
In the meantime, Yassir Arman, vice secretary general of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), who announced on Friday his nomination as SPLM candidate for the Sudanese presidency, has downplayed the debate over Kiir's military post, according to the Miraya FM Radio report.
"The SPLM has formed committees to look into all legal and procedural issues relating to the general elections," he was quoted as saying.
The Political Bureau of the SPLM announced on Thursday the incumbent chairman of the party, Salva Kiir Mayardit, as the candidate for presidency of the southern Sudanese government.
Salva Kiir took over the party's chairmanship after the untimely death of late John Garang in a helicopter crash on July 30, 2005, only 21 days after his swearing in to the offices of the Sudanese first vice president and president of the southern Sudanese government.
Currently serving as the commander-in-chief in the Sudan People 's Liberation Army, the military wing of the SPLM, Salva Kiir has refused to contest for the national presidency position.
Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir last week announced his retirement from the Sudanese military to pave the way for his nomination to the post of presidency in the coming general elections.

Saba