Ethiopia's prime minister held separate talks with Sudan's military rulers and opposition in Khartoum on Friday in a bid to ease the political crisis that has followed the overthrow of President Omar Bashir. At Khartoum airport, Abiy was greeted by Lieutenant General Shams El Din Kabbashi, spokesman for Sudan's ruling Transitional Military Council. Abiy later hosted a meeting at the Ethiopian embassy with the opposition Declaration of Freedom and Change Forces alliance. "He expressed Ethiopia's commitment to fostering peace in the region and underlined that a prerequisite for restoring peace in Sudan is unity," Abiy's office said. Both sides had been in talks for weeks over who should lead Sudan's transition to democracy. But the already faltering negotiations collapsed in the wake of this week's crackdown. Abiy Ahmed, who took office in Ethiopia last year and introduced political and economic reforms, has won wide praise for his diplomacy skills, including brokering peace with his country's neighbor and long-time foe Eritrea. The African Union on Thursday suspended Sudan until the establishment of civilian rule, intensifying global pressure on the military leaders to stand down. The United Nations and several governments have also condemned the bloodshed. The opposition says 113 people were killed in the storming of a civilian protest camp on Monday and a subsequent wider crackdown. The government put the toll at 61 people, including three security personnel. — Reuters
