ARTICLE: Sudan opposition parties forge alliance, By Scott Baldauf, The Christian Science Monitor, September 9, 2009

This is one to watch: southern Sudan allying with a moderate northern party that seems willing to accept the possibility of secession in 2011, when the vote is taken.

xplaining the alliance to a reporter from Voice of America, Mr. Mahdi said the Umma Party was prepared to accept the possibility of South Sudan's secession from Khartoum, and sees this agreement as a chance to maintain peaceful relations throughout.

"We think its time to begin to discuss the possibilities of separation and an independent South, so that we are prepared for the eventuality," said Mahdi. A pragmatic and moderate former prime minister of Sudan, Mahdi was overthrown by Bashir at a time of intense negotiations with the rebellious leadership of southern Sudan in 1989.