Sudanese official pleads for handover of oppositon SAF leader

By Muawia E. Ibrahim

ABU DHABI, Oct 7, 2004 (Khaleej Times) — A top Sudanese security official is believed to have visited the UAE last week to convince the authorities to hand over Abdul Aziz Khalid, head of the northern opposition group Sudan Alliance Forces (SAF) who was arrested here last month, to the Khartoum authorities.

A close associate of the opposition leader, who requested anonymity, told Khaleej Times yesterday that this sudden shift in Khartoum’s position, which had earlier requested the UAE authorities to release him due to the invalidity of an arrest notice against him, came as a surprise to the opposition.

A former Sudanese army general Khalid was arrested upon arrival on a flight from Egypt at the Abu Dhabi International Airport on September 23, on the basis of a notice issued by Interpol, accusing him of committing terrorist acts in Sudan, UAE authorities said. Soon after he was arrested, Khalid’s lawyer was assured by Khartoum officials that the authorities would send a request to the UAE to withdraw their earlier request to the Interpol.

Khalid, ex-paratrooper, was involved in rebel operations along Sudan’s eastern border since the early 1990s, including a series of attacks on oil pipelines and government forces. The source said this fresh move by Khartoum caused simmering anger among opposition groups, mainly the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which includes Khalid’s SAF.

“This is a dramatic change in the position of the government. It has sent shock waves to all opposition groups that operate under the umbrella of the NDA. It’s really disappointing as the man (Khalid) was in negotiations with the government after he gave up the fight,” the source said.