Garang’s successor to be sworn in on Tuesday

Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir (R) and Salva Kiir, successor to the late vice president John Garang, shake hands after a funeral service for Garang in Juba, southern Sudan August 6, 2005. (Reuters).

KHARTOUM, Aug 7 (Reuters) – Southern Sudanese leader Salva Kiir will be sworn in on Tuesday in Khartoum as Sudan’s first vice president in succession to John Garang, killed last week in a helicopter crash, the presidency said on Sunday.

Garang was leader of the former rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), which in January signed a peace deal to end a long civil war in Sudan’s south. His death just three weeks after becoming first vice president shocked the nation and sparked riots in which 130 people were killed.

He was buried in the southern town of Juba on Saturday. Kiir, his deputy and military chief, will begin work immediately on forming a new coalition government as outlined in January peace deal.