The draft was written by a commission representing all parties, including some in the opposition, in the past two months amid political controversy over its content. Bashir is to present the draft to parliament and to the southern Sudanese Popular Movement for review and endorsement.

The constitution was drafted on the basis of the peace treaty signed in January between the Khartoum government and the southern Popular Movement, which ended more than 20 years of civil strife in the south.

Officials do expect the draft to be amended by either the Sudanese parliament or the southern organization. The constitution was due to be endorsed and enacted by July.