国际英语新闻：Sudanese elections end with announcement of al-Bashir's win

He expressed "thanks for those who stood with us from the Sudanese people and also thanks for those who have opposed us. Failing to support us would not affect their citizenship because the president of the republic performs his duties as a president for all, and he is responsible for them. This is a fact I confirm, commit to and declare."

"I'm proud in the eye of the world of the civilized and respectful manner in elections that were free of violence and tension. My thanks for all the Sudanese people in the north and the south," he added.

He acknowledged that the elections faced difficulties, saying that "it is a huge and costly process and despite the technical and logistical challenges, it has been conducted in a credible manner that all the Sudanese are proud of."

Citizens celebrate Omar al-Bashir's winning of the elections in Khartoum, capital of Sudan, April 26, 2010.

The Sudanese president also thanked the international community and whoever contributed material, financial or administrative assistance to make the electoral process a success.

He praised the role of national and international observers who participated in monitoring the Sudanese elections, saying that " the international and national observers who participated in the elections have performed an important task that any free and credible elections need."

Al-Bashir was born in 1944 in the town of Hoshe Bannaga, 150 km north of Khartoum. He graduated at the military academy in 1967.

He was put in command of the Eighth Brigade in the south of Sudan during the civil war which broke out in 1983 between the government in Khartoum and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM).