Speaking to source al-Bashir described the Darfur rebels' demands as "surprising even to the province's residents". 

The signing of the peace agreement "should have been concluded a long time ago", he said.

Among their appeals, explained al-Bashir, are the separation of religion and state.
 
"We have completely surpassed this issue, even with the non-Muslim majority southern areas. 

"It is strange that they are talking on behalf of Darfur residents and demanding the separation of religion and state."

Still in conflict{mosgoogle right}

The president added that it "was clear they have no plan as they are not a genuine movement".

The evidence, continued al-Bashir, is that "Europeans have tried to create a movement out of these armed groups in Darfur, to train and teach them".

All attempts, however, to create a movement with objectives have failed, he said.

Sudan is to have a new constitution on Saturday as it enters a six-year interim period aimed at giving the strife-torn country a fresh start and sealing a peace deal that ended Africa's longest civil war.

However, even after the historic peace agreement that was signed in Kenya on 9 January between the Khartoum government and southern rebels, Sudan remains mired in conflict in the Darfur region and in the volatile east.

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