UN reform: AU summit setback for German UN seat bid

Excerpt from DPA report via Expatica in Germany on African Union (AU) summit outcome relating to important UN members' meeting September 2005 on Reform at the UN:

Current A.U. chairman and Nigerian President Olusengu Obasanjo insisted on a "synchronizing" of the African stand with that of other regions of the world.

The delegations from Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia and Ethiopia supported Obasanjo, saying the African Group at the U.N. needed to negotiate with other groups to win support.

Delegations who took the opposite view included those from Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Senegal, Kenya, Sudan and Uganda, sources said.

Other groups presenting proposals on Security Council enlargement include the Group of Four (Brazil, Germany, India and Japan) and the Consensus Group of 12 states (which include Argentina, Canada, Italy, South Korea and Turkey).

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Uganda president says Garang crash may not be accident

This AFP report, if true, makes Uganda's president appear cowardly and irresponsible - publicly making such speculations (to cover his own hide I guess - it was his helicoper) at such a sensitive time and before the official investigations have reached any conclusions:

Friday 5 August 2005 YEI, Sudan, Aug 5 (AFP) - Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni said Friday that the helicopter crash that killed Sudanese vice president and ex-rebel leader John Garang may not have been an accident, contrary to official explanations.

"Some people say accident, it may be an accident, it may be something else," Museveni said, suggesting for the first time the July 31 crash of his presidential chopper in which Garang was riding may have been the result of foul play.

"I am looking (at) all options," he told a crowd of thousands of mourning southern Sudanese in the town of Yei where Garang's body was brought as part of a funeral procession before his Saturday burial in the town of Juba.

[Note, The Sudanese government and Garang's rebel movement SPLM say the helicopter crash was an accident but an investigation is planned by all concerned, including the U.N. Some possible reasons for the crash are listed in a report posted here below, yesterday]
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Sudan's SPLM releases names of officers killed with Garang

See details at SudanTribune Aug 5, 2005.

Tags: Sudan Darfur Garang John Garang Musevina Uganda UN reform SPLM