The World - News from July 5, 1989

Sudanese military ruler Gen. Omar Hassan Ahmed Bashir, who toppled the country’s civilian government last week, declared a one-month unilateral cease-fire in the six-year civil war in the south, state radio reported. Bashir offered an amnesty to anyone fighting the government for political reasons, Omdurman radio said. Bashir overthrew Prime Minister Sadek Mahdi’s regime the day that a two-month unilateral cease-fire by the rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Army expired. The rebels have said they have no plans to renew the cease-fire. But Bashir urged the guerrillas to respond to his declaration by laying down their arms and starting peace negotiations.