The World - News from March 13, 1989

Sudan’s State Council, the African nation’s collective presidency, formally accepted the week-old resignation of Prime Minister Sadek Mahdi’s Cabinet, paving the way for a new government. Mahdi, bowing to pressure from military and labor union leaders who three weeks ago gave him an ultimatum to end the six-year civil war in the south, said he will name a new government as soon as possible. The main issue is whether the militant National Islamic Front, which wants a military solution to the war, will figure in a new administration. Mahdi has accepted a U.N. proposal for a month’s truce, but the rebel leadership in the south has not made a decision.