Sudan's new military rulers urged political parties Sunday to select an "independent" figure to become prime minister and form a civilian government, an AFP correspondent at their meeting said.

"We want to set up a civilian state based on freedom, justice and democracy," Lieutenant General Yasser al-Ata, a member the ruling military council, said at the meeting with several parties in Khartoum.

"We want you to agree on an independent figure to be prime minister and agree on a civilian government."