SPLM gets oil ministry in new Sudan cabinet

Khartoum, 15 June-(ANA)-Sudan's president Omar al-Bashir has announced his coalition cabinet, expected to be the last before a referendum due in January on secession for the oil-rich south.

Omar al-Bashir was overwhelmingly re-elected in April's polls, although they were marred by an opposition boycott and fraud allegations.

The newly created oil ministry has gone to Lual Acuek Deng, from the southern Sudan People's Liberation Movement.

The referendum was part of a north-south deal to end a long civil war.

The south, where most of Sudan's lucrative oil lies, is expected to vote to split from the north but the exact boundary still has to be defined.

The elections, the first multi-party polls in 24 years, have been recognised internationally, despite their flaws.

In the new government, Mr Bashir has split the energy portfolio into three - oil, mining and electricity. (ANA)

FA/ANA/15 June 2010---------