Arab states support a transition in Sudan that balances the ambitions of the people with stability, a senior United Arab Emirates minister said on Wednesday. The UAE and Saudi Arabia last month pledged $3 billion in aid to Sudan, throwing a lifeline to the country's new military leaders who ousted president Omar al-Bashir after weeks of mass protests. Protesters and activists have been negotiating with the Transitional Military Council (TMC) to form a joint civilian-military body to oversee a transition, but are deadlocked over who would control the new council. "Totally legitimate for Arab states to support an orderly & stable transition in Sudan. One that carefully calibrates popular aspirations with institutional stability," the UAE's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Anwar Gargash, said on Twitter "We have experienced all-out chaos in the region and, sensibly, don't need more of it," he added. Sudanese opposition groups are calling for a civilian-led council to oversee the political transition. The TMC has shown no sign of willingness to relinquish ultimate authority. The UAE was quick to welcome Burhan's appointment and said it would look to accelerate aid to Sudan. Shortly after Burhan's nomination, Saudi Arabia said it would provide wheat, fuel and medicine to Sudan. The financial aid provided by the two close allies, which includes a deposit of $500 million with the Sudanese central bank, is the first major publicly announced assistance to the African nation from Gulf states in several years. *The story was edited by Ahram Online.
