Sudan's Bashir announces the release of all political prisoners

        
Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir announced on Monday that he will release all political prisoners, as he renewed the commitment to all political powers in regards to dialogue.         

Bashir's statements came in a speech opening a new session of parliament as tensions ease following recent agreements with South Sudan.                        

Bashir added that communication with all political and social powers will continue "without exclusion" in order to reach a solution to all pending issues.                              

This comes as an offer was made last week by Vice President Ali Osman Taha, who tried to reach out to rebels in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states as well as to opposition political parties, whom he invited to join a constitutional dialogue.                            

The alliance of opposition parties and the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) rejected the vice president's call.                          

In 2008, the United Nations said about 300,000 people may have died in Darfur's war, a figure some activists say is too low. The government has put the death toll at about 10,000.