Sudanese president sees separation of South Sudan possible

Via Sudan Tribune Cairo, April 1, 2005 (KUNA):

Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir said it was possible that the southern part of his country would decide to separate by the end of the current transition, but underlined his confidence that residents of the south would favor to remain united with Sudan.

Bashir told the Cairo-based "Al-Ahram Al-Arabi" Magazine in an interview to be published Saturday that Arab joint action would remain targeted, noting the activities underway in southern Sudan indicate that the Arab nation was always targeted (by enemies).

He mentioned that the war in southern Sudan started in 1955, one year ahead of Sudan's independence in 1956.

The Sudanese leader accused Israel of exploiting of the situation in the Sudanese troubled region of Darfur, to interfere in his country through alleging the Darfur issue was Jewish-related.

Al-Bashir, whose country will host the next Arab summit, said the Arab nation was passing through difficult circumstances and that Arab leaders' only option was unity. He praised their support to Sudan in resolving the Darfur issue and in creating peace in the south.



Photo: SPLM leader John Garang (left) shakes hands with Sudanese president Omar El Bashir (right), in the presence of Kenyan president Mwai Kibaki (centre) Wednesday April 2, 2003.
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UN urges Sudan to cooperate in trying Darfur suspects

A spokeswoman of the top UN envoy to Sudan said that officials of the criminal court will visit Sudan soon to try to start consultation with Sudanese government, says China View April 3, 2005.

Note, international donors meet for a conference in Oslo, Norway on April 13. It is unclear if the Sudanese president, who has been invited, will attend.
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Sudan's president rejects handing over Darfur suspects

Several news reports say Sudan sees hypocrisy in UN Darfur ruling.

Sudanese President Al-Bashir told a meeting of the ruling National Congress Party that his government will not hand over a single Sudanese to be tried in an international tribunal called for by UN Security Council Resolution 1593.

He described the resolution as "null and void, serving colonialist objectives," and insisted that those who issued the decision were "traitors."

The president added he did not believe the resolution would adversely affect the peace process and treaty reached with rebels in southern Sudan and called for "cooperation and solidarity to overcome the dangers and challenges facing our nation." - via UPI Khartoum April 2, 2005.

[He must wonder if he is on the UN's sealed list of 51 people suspected of crimes against humanity]
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Sudanese students march against UN

Yesterday, April 2, Reuters reports that hundreds of Sudanese students have gathered to denounce a UN decision to refer those accused of war crimes in Darfur to the International Criminal Court.

A government-dominated student union organised the march, which began on Saturday with speeches in Martyrs Square outside the Republican Palace denouncing the US and France, and was to follow on to the French and British embassies and finally to the UN building in central Khartoum. A few dozen students were wearing red scarves around their heads signalling jihad, or holy war.

Some 200 students chanted "down, down USA", and called for the cutting of diplomatic relations with France. There were almost as many security and police as students. Organisers said the poor turnout was due to the holidays as most students had gone home to their villages outside Khartoum.

"This UN resolution is not helping anyone solve the problem in Darfur," said Haitham Osman, the executive head of the Sudan student's union. "We totally reject it," he said.

Students carried banners saying "Death and blasphemy to America" and slamming the UN resolution. Some shouted over loud speakers: "The USA is the daughter of the devil" and "The Muslim people will never surrender".

Students stopped traffic to give out leaflets saying the Security Council was following the "agenda of international Jewry to create disunity in Sudan". - via Reuters South Africa, April 2, 2005.
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Chad and Sudan accuse each other of arming rebel groups

Idris Deby, the Chadian president, has accused Sudan of harbouring and arming the Chadian opposition in western Sudan to destabilize his regime. This came during a meeting in Chad between him and Sudan's vice president Taha on March 18, 2005.

Sources said Deby specified the Alliance Nationale de la Resistance (ANR), an umbrella of armed Chadian political forces, and mentioned the name of Mohamat Sileck the leader of the ANR and his military commander Mohamat Nour.

In the same meeting Taha, accused Deby of arming Darfur rebels groups. He indicated that all the rebels' arms, logistics and munitions are from the Chadian army. - via SudanTribune Mar 24, 2005.