Sudan to investigate deadly rioting

KHARTOUM, Aug 7, 2005 — Sudanese President Omar al-Beshir Sunday decreed the formation of a ministerial committee to probe deadly rioting that erupted following the death of former southern rebel John Garang, official media said.

Burning cars are seen in this picture in Sudanese capital Khartoum August 1, 2005. (reuters).

The panel will investigate “circumstances that led to the eruption of riot, murder, arson and damage against the citizens in Khartoum and other states in the wake of announcing the death of First Vice President John Garang.”

The riots, which mainly pitted Christian or animist southerners against Muslim northerners earlier this week, left 111 people dead in Khartoum and 19 in two southern towns, according to the Red Cross.

The committee, which is chaired by Defence Minister Major General Bekri Hassan Salih, is to probe “the reasons, motives and parties that contributed to the incidents,” state media said, quoting the text of the decree.

It will also investigate any “security shortcomings and negligence in dealing with the incidents.” The committee has two weeks from the date of commencing its task to submit its report to the president.

Garang, the head of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) died in a July 30 helicopter crash on his way back to Sudan from Uganda.

He had been sworn in as vice president on July 9 following a landmark peace deal that ended 21 years of civil war between north and south Sudan.

Beshir announced on Wednesday the establishment of a committee to probe Garang’s death, which many of his supporters claim was no accident.

(AFP)