Sudanese president appoints 2 presidential assistants

KHARTOUM, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir on Thursday appointed two presidentiAl assistants.

According to a Presidency statement, Ahmed Mohamed Haroun, acting chairman of the ruling NationAl Congress Party (NCP), and Al-Sadiq Al-Hadi Al-Mahdi, chairman of the Umma Party, were appointed as presidentiAl assistants.

Al-Bashir declared a state of emergency on Feb. 22 All over Sudan for one year and dissolved the centrAl and state governments, during popular protests that have lasted since last December over the deteriorating economic conditions and price hikes of basic commodities.

On March 13, Al-Bashir ordered the formation of a new government of 21 federAl ministers and 18 state ministers.