1.
GV PRIME MINISTER OUT OF DOOR, DOWN STEPS, INTO CAR (3 SHOTS)
0.29

2.
GV PRIME MINISTER AT TABLE
0.33

3.
CU PRIME MINISTER
0.37

4.
TV PRIME MINISTER WITH GROUP
0.43

5.
GV PRIME MINISTER SHAKES HANDS WITH OFFICIAL
0.50

6.
GV PRESIDENT AZHARI DOWN STEPS, WAVES TO CROWD
0.54

7.
GV PRIME MINISTER DOWN STEPS
1.00



Initials GHB/VS/RM/OS



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: THE SUDANESE PARLIAMENT LAST WEEK ELECTED SAYED SADIK MAHDI, PRESIDENT OF THE UMMA PARTY, AS THE NEW PRIME MINISTER OF THE SUDAN. THE PREMIER, A DESCENDANT OF THE GREAT MAHDI WHO FOUNDED THE MODERN SUDAN, REPLACES MR. MOHAMMED AHMED MAHGOUB, ANOTHER UMMA LEADER, WHO WAS FORCED TO RESIGN AFTER PARLIAMENT VOTED A CENSURE MOTION AGAINST HIM.

AT 30, SADIK EL MAHDI, SON OF THE LATE RELIGIOUS LEADER IMMAN SADIK EL MAHDI, BECOMES THE YOUNGEST PRIME MINISTER IN THE HISTORY OF THE SUDAN. HIS SUCCESSION TO THE PREMIERSHIP FOLLOWED A DECISION BY THE PARLIAMENTARY GROUP OF THE UMMA PARTY - MAJORITY PARTY IN THE SUDANESE COALITION GOVERNMENT - TO BACK HIM TO ASSUME HIS FULL RESPONSIBILITIES AS PARTY LEADER.

HE WAS ELECTED BY 138 VOTES TO 29, AND LATER TOOK THE CONSTITUTIONAL OATH BEFORE THE SUPREME COUNCIL OF STATE.

ON SUNDAY (JULY 31) THE NEW PRIME MINISTER ANNOUNCED THAT AFTER FOUR DAYS OF CONSULTATIONS HE HAD SUCCEEDED IN FORMING A NEW COALITION GOVERNMENT. IT CONSISTS OF MEMBERS OF THE UMMA PARTY AND THE NATIONALIST UNIONIST PARTY, JUNIOR PARTNERS IN THE OUTGOING GOVERNMENT.

SAYED SADIK EL MAHDI, EDUCATED AT OXFORD UNIVERSITY IN ENGLAND, IS CONSIDERED TO HAVE STRONG PRO-WESTERN LEANINGS. HE IS REPORTED TO CONSIDER IT A DISADVANTAGE THAT THE LEADERSHIP OF THE UMMA PARTY COMES LARGELY FROM HIS OWN FAMILY, ITSELF CONSIDERED ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL FAMILIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST.