The sixth national conference of the Eritrean Liberation Front-National Congress (ELF-NC) has completed its works yesterday evening by electing a legislative leadership composed of 31 principal and 4 reserves members. The election process was conducted in a free and fair atmosphere.

The votes were sorted out at the presence of independent observers from outside the organization who were solely invited to supervise the election process. No pressure was exerted on the electorate to elect a specific candidate.

The election was based on the ability of the candidates to advance the Eritrean struggle towards democracy and justice and not based on ethnic or racial allegiance.

The elected members of the leadership, which included the youth, are the following:

1. Dr. Sahle Tesfay
2. Ahmed Mohamed Nasser
3. Dr. Habte Tesfamariam
4. Abdella Hassan Ali
5. Hassan Eiman Bekhit
6. Dr.Beyane Kidane
7. Eyob Bisrat
8. Samuel Daniel
9. Romadan Saleh
10. Dr. Yusuf Berhanu
11. Abrham paulos
12. Dini Ismael
13. Osman Mohammed
14. Ahmed Shegray
15. Feshatzion Gebre
16. Mohammed Ahmed Jaber
17. Keflezghi Kidane
18. Mohammed Omer Yahya
19. Ogbazghi Debus
20. Nura Hussein
21. Osman Shum
22. Abdel Aziz Ahmed
23. Abraham Eyasu
24. Esmael Ali Ahmed
25. Saeed Abdella
26. Micheal Antonio
27. Mahmoud Mohammed Suleiman
28. Baira Sereqe
29. Abdella Saeed Idris
30. Berhana Goshu
31. Tesfu Berakhi

The names of the reserve members are:

1. Abdelwasse Mohammed Hassan
2. Weldemichael
3. Lemlem Tsehaye
4. Gebrekidan Halefa

The conference has urged its elected leadership to conduct serious dialogue with the other Eritrean political organizations that have similar programs to reach to an understanding for a common work by integration all activities beyond the level of coordination. Moreover, the conference has called on the international community to pressure the regime in Asmara. It has also extended its gratitude to the countries of the Sanna Axis and has valued the distinguished role of the Sudan in supporting the struggle of the Eritrean people.

Before he declared the result of the election, Mr. Ibrahim Gedem, head of the preparatory committee, presented a comprehensive report about the work of the conference. In his report, Gedem said: "This conference is the most objectivity and transparency dominated conference I have ever participated at. If we were at the political consciousness and awareness of the year 2004, the splits as well as the differences which had happened in the year 1970 would never have occurred… this conference was transformational for it brought about a real change in the Eritrean vision, thought and programs". He further referred to the democratic choices and the participation of the public as the ideal option for bringing about a comprehensive change.

Mr. Gedem reported that the number of the voters were 144 of which 20 votes were dropped due to technical reasons. The rest of the voters, 124, have all cast their votes to elect the leadership.

The concludsion of the event started with a word from Mr. Ahmed Nasser in which he welcomed the people and conveyed a message of gratitude to the Sudanese government and the Sudanese people. He also thanked all those who have contributed to the success of the conference including officials of the Sudanese government handling the Eritrean file and the leaders of the Eritrean political organizations. Mr. Ahmed Nasser said, "Every conference assesses the previous experiences to come up with a new ideas for a bright future. And we have passed in the last two years through difficult circumstances and it was a must to evaluate this period to extract lessons from it and to find out a sustainable solutions". He also said that the conference has focused on the issue of unifying the Eritrean opposition and on considering the Eritrean National Alliance as well as promoting the culture of dialogue. The new leadership, he added, has been conceded to seek serious dialogue with other Eritrean political organizations to arrive at an agreement on a minimum program to overthrow the regime and to guarantee internal peace and to enhance Eritrea’s relations with the neighboring countries. He added, "I really appreciate the serious discussions of the participants of the conference who have come from all over the world-from Australia in the East to California in the West and the world between them".

Dr Habte Tesfamariam has also commented on the conference saying, " It was about unity, democracy and challenge. Democracy with its western conceptions had prevailed in our society before it came to us from the west for it is the key for justice and to realize this, we have to accelerate our unity pace".

Observers said that the ELF-NC conference is distinguished by a number of factors among which is the dissemination of full reports about the general atmosphere and the deliberations of the conference to the Eritrean people around the world with. It was fully covered by the Eritrean websites without bias.

The participation of all Eritrean political organizations at its opening ceremony has given the participants of the congress a " strong push" to discuss the papers and to conclude with resolutions that enhance the organization in particular and the opposition in general.

The conducting of dialogue among the opposition in official as well as in social occasions is an indication of a broad political awareness for the significance of speeding up the unification process. It is an attempt to create a common view to confront the serious challenges ahead.

The conference endorsed the political and organizational programs. It has also passed resolutions and recommendations, which have defined the principles of the organization, its condemnation of the policies of the regime in Asmara and the strong commitment to unifying the opposition. The conference has also renewed its support for the ENA.

The great Sudanese singer, Abdulaziz AlMubarek entertained the people during the conclusion of the eventmind to confront the serious challenge." . Almost all the participants have rushed to the stage the moment the music orchestra of AbdulAziz AlMubarek started to play. At about 8:00 P.M the band of the ELF-NC entertained the guests. National and romantic songs touched the emotions of the people present. Since all the lyrics of the songs were about the Eritrean reality, they made the public to live the dream of democracy and justice for which all Eritreans are struggling. That was why the public, composed of people from different political persuasion, danced the night away in an atmosphere of unity.

A number of entities were honored in the occasion.

• The ruling National Congress party of the Sudan
• The Administration of the National residence camps of Suba
• The Eritrean Medical Association
• Alkhalej Research and Studies Center

The ceremony was closed by the national anthem.