One killed after clashes between police and students in Darfur

March 17, 2011(KHARTOUM) – One student was killed at the University of El Fasher in the capital of North Darfur during clashes between the police and protesters against the suspension of political activities inside the academic institutions.

Last week talks between the university administration and the student s failed to lift the suspension of the political activities. However, the students decide to overcome the ban and resumed the discussions circles as Sudanese students used to do in all the universities of the country

The Sudanese police said the university guards found the body of Jamal Adam Mustafa lying on the ground in the courtyard of the university adding he died in the ambulance on the way to the hospital.

North Darfur government accused members of United popular Front (UPF), a student union supporting the rebel Sudan Liberation Movement led by Abdel Wahid Al-Nur, of shooting at the victim with a pistol to kill him.

The state government said the supporters of Abdel Wahid Al-Nur and Minni Minnawi encouraged during discussions the students to kill the pro- National Congress Party students.

However the UPF condemned the killing of the student and denied the accusations of the killing carried out by the government. In a statement they released, the student union further urged the peacekeeping mission, UNAMID to investigate the incident and to hand their report to the UN and the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court.

Eyewitness from the area said 12 police vehicles surrounded the university buildings and fired tear gas on the protesters inside the courtyard followed by the sound of gunshots they heard.

Referring to the incident, a UN spokesperson said that that the right to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly are fundamental and should be respected.

(ST)