Probe into Garang's death requested

UPI report says a senior aide to John Garang, has called for an investigation into the crash. Excerpt:

Deng Alor, a senior member of Garang's rebel movement, the Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement, refused to say if the plane crash was accidental or the result of a sabotage.

"We do not rule out any possibility, and that is why we are asking for an investigation," Alor told UPI in a telephone interview from southern Sudan.

President Omar al-Bashir announced earlier Monday Garang died with six aides and seven crew members while on his way back from Uganda in a Ugandan presidential helicopter. It crashed against high mountains due to poor visibility.

Bashir in a statement characterized Garang's death as "a big and terrible loss for the nation" but said it would not disrupt the peace process.

UPDATE - From Coalition for Darfur:

Uganda Launches Probe into Crash of Garang Helicopter:

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni said Monday he would appoint a special panel to investigate the weekend crash of his helicopter that killed Sudanese Vice President John Garang and 13 others.

In addition, Museveni said Uganda had asked a foreign government to look into Saturday's crash to definitively establish that it was an accident as officials in Kampala have insisted and not the result of sabotage or terrorism.

"I have decided to create a panel of three experts to look into this crash," Museveni said, adding that the team would be appointed shortly by Uganda's transport minister.

"We have also approached a certain foreign government to rule out any form of sabotage or terrorism," he said in a statement read to parliament by Vice President Gilbert Bukenya that did not identify the government involved.

- - -

Uganda declares 3-day mourning over Garang's death

China News agency Xinhua confirms Ugandan government has declared a three-day mourning period with effect from Tuesday with flags flying at half-mast in the whole country to condole the death of John Garang.
- - -

Mbeki appeals for calm in Sudan

President Thabo Mbeki offered condolences on Garang's death and appealed on Monday for restraint in Sudan. Full Story.

Tags: Garang Sudan Darfur Africa Mbeki Uganda