UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations welcomes Sudan's newly-formed sovereign council, a UN spokesman said on Wednesday.
"The United Nations warmly welcomes the nominations by the Transitional Military Council (TMC) and the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC) for the Sovereign Council as well as its subsequent formal formation and swearing in today," said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
Dujarric highlighted the inclusion of two women in the sovereign council, saying the UN strongly encourages the inclusion of women in all transitional bodies in Sudan, including in, but not limited to the Transitional Legislative Assembly.
Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, chairman of Sudan's TMC, on Tuesday issued a constitutional decree to form a joint sovereign council of 11 members.
Earlier on Wednesday, he was sworn in as chairman of the sovereign council.
Under the deal recently signed by the TMC and the opposition Freedom and Change Alliance, the sovereign council comprises 11 members, including five military members chosen by the TMC, five civilian members chosen by the opposition alliance, and one civilian selected through consultation by the two sides.
The military members in the sovereign council include al-Burhan.
A constitutional decree is expected to be issued later on Wednesday to dissolve the TMC, which has been running the country's affairs since the ouster of former President Omar al-Bashir on April 11.
