Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir has announced that he will introduce economic austerity measures following South Sudan's secession.

苏丹总统奥马尔·巴希尔宣布，伴随着南苏丹的独立，他将引入经济紧缩措施。

Most of Sudan's oil lay in the south and the two countries have not agreed how to divide future oil revenues（收入，税收） .

The president told MPs that a three-year "emergency programme" would include issuing a new currency.

He also promised a more open society where people would be free to express political views without fear of arrest.

"Our government is keen not to curb¹ freedom of speech. No-one from today will be arrested for expressing his political views," the president said in his speech to parliament in the capital, Khartoum.

Consultations² on a new constitution - a key opposition³ demand - would also begin soon, he said.

It would be an inclusive process involving opposition politicians, religious leaders and university professors and the new constitution would be put to a referendum（公民投票） .

Last December, President Bashir said a new constitution would make Islam the only religion in Sudan and Sharia the only law.

The BBC's James Copnall in Khartoum says that Mr Bashir's opponents will be sceptical（怀疑的） about the promises of greater political freedom.

But our correspondent says that perhaps President Bashir has decided⁴ that only greater openness and inclusiveness - or at least the impression of it - will keep his country united through what could be a very tough period.

According to Reuters news agency, Sudan has been hit by a scarcity⁵ of foreign currency and high inflation.

"We have placed an emergency programme for the next three years," Mr Bashir said in his nationally televised speech.

A new budget with no new taxes is to be put before parliament.

"The package of the economic measures includes issuing a new currency in the coming days," he said.