Sudan denies disappearance of southern leader

Sept 21, 2005 (KHARTOUM) — The deputy chairman of the southern Sudan government, Riek Machar, has denied that the chairman of the National Labour Party, Maj-Gen (Retd) Dominic Kassiano, had disappeared after recently carrying out extensive political activities in all the sub-divisions of Western Equatoria State in southern Sudan.

In a statement to the official Sudan News Agency (SUNA), Machar said Dominic Kassiano, a member of the former Salvation Revolutionary Command Council, had visited his father and other members of his family in Tambura town, Western Equatoria, after being absent for over 20 years.

Riek Machar accused an unidentified group of incitement and destabilizing peace by announcing the disappearance of Dominic Kassiano.

He said that Dominic Kassiano called his family and friends in Khartoum today and reassured them that he was in Juba and in good health and that the reports saying he had disappeared were not true.

The deputy chairman of the south urged the media to be accurate in publishing such sensitive news which affects the peace and stability of the people.

(ST)