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21:48 GMT
KHARTOUM, Aug 20 (KUNA) -- Sudan's ruling Transitional Military Council on Tuesday announced the names of 11-member Sovereign Council in charge of running the affairs of the country for the next three years.
The council, divided into six civilians and five military officers, includes two women, one of whom is a Coptic Christian in the predominantly Muslim majority nation.
Raja Nicolas Abdulmessih, a legal advisor, was jointly opted for by the military and the Forces of Freedom and Change opposition alliance.
The Sovereign Council military members include Abdulfattah Al-Burhan, as the council's head in its initial 21 months, Mohammad Dagalo, Lt-Gen Yasser Al-Atta, Shamseddine Khabbashi and Salah Abdelkhaleq.
Aside from Abdulmessih, civilians include Aisha Mousa, Siddig Tawer, Mohammad Alfaki Suleiman, Hassan Sheikh Idris and Mohammad Hassan Al-Taishi.
As per a power-sharing deal earlier signed between both sides, the sovereign council is the highest authority in the country but executive powers rest in the hands of cabinet ministers.
Former United Nations economist Abdullah Hamdok has been named as the new prime minister, ahead of the August 28 announcement of a newly-formed cabinet. (end)
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