South Sudan urges to disarm non-SPLA forces

Mar 16, 2006 (JUBA) — The Vice-President of southern Sudan government, Riek Machar, has called to disarm citizens and factions which have not announced that they have joined the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) forces or the armed forces.

This came during the visit, which ended yesterday, to a number of towns in Upper Nile State, and his visit today to a number of regions in Jonglei State.

Marchar said that his visits to Jonglei and Upper Nile State came within the framework of the southern government’s efforts, in cooperation with the states’ governments, to implement the peace agreement and disarm citizens and groups who are not entrusted to own weapons.

He said that the government forces was responsible for protecting the citizens and their properties.

Machar said that peaceful coexistence and unity was the most important for stability and peace.

(ST)