Bashir starts Sudan election bid

Khartoum, 13 Jan-(ANA)-Sudan leader Omar al-Bashir has been officially nominated to stand for president in April's election by his northern National Congress Party (NCP).

The general election will be the first since the end of a two decade north-south civil war in 2005.

The southern SPLM party is expected to announce its candidate later this week.

More than three-quarters of the population live in the north, so it is likely that a northern candidate will win the election, correspondents say.

Earlier, Mr Bashir stepped down as commander-in-chief of the army - in accordance with electoral law - in order for his candidacy to go forward. (ANA)

FA/ANA/13 January 2010----