Sudan president blasts rebel SPLA leader

KHARTOUM, Sudan, July 17, 2004 (UPI) — Sudanese President Omar Bashir Saturday reportedly lashed out at the head of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army, John Garang.

The Sudanese al-Hayat daily, linked to the ruling National Congress Party, quoted Bashir as urging Garang to respect the peace accord between the government and the SPLA that was signed last month in Kenya.

He said Garang would “not enter Khartoum (the capital) victorious, but enters it in line with the peace accords that he should respect.”

Bashir was apparently responding to press statements by the rebel leader that called on the Sudanese government to stop the war in Darfour in western Sudan.

Garang said when his movement joins the government in line with the peace protocols, it would not allow fighting against the people “who make just demands.”

Bashir said the government “does not fight its people, but it does not take permission from anyone when it is confronted with outlaws.”