Hardline govt officials may be connected to journalist's killing - Journalists call for resignation of Sudan's defence & interior ministers

Yesterday, Reuters and the BBC reported beheaded Sudan editor is buried, revealing that the state-owned Sudan Vision newspaper was printed in black and white out of respect for Mr Taha's funeral.

Today, Reuters says some analysts said hardline government officials may be connected to the crime.

Full story via ST - excerpt:

"The Sudanese government is not monolithic ... it is likely that this is indicative of factionalism," said Alex Vines, Africa analyst at Chatham House. "There may have been individuals in the government (involved)."

Hafiz Mohamed of the Justice Africa research institute agreed, saying: "Violence against political opponents with this government is not new."

Taha's murder, combined with a resurgence in censorship in the papers, has angered many journalists who have called for the resignation of Sudan's defence and interior ministers.

Commentators say there is also a resurgence of political repression in Khartoum by the dominant National Congress Party. Peaceful protests in Khartoum have been violently broken up by police who beat and teargassed demonstrators.

"The National Congress and its security apparatus is doing what it likes regardless of the peace agreements and its partners in government," said Sudanese opposition politician Mubarak al-Fadil.

Photo: Pro-Sudanese government demonstrators chant anti-U.N. slogans in the capital Khartoum August 30, 2006, during a protest march organised against the deployment of U.N. forces in Darfur. The banner reads, 'Against U.N. peacekeeping forces in Darfur.' (Reuters/Mohamed Nureldin Abdalah)