Sudan’s vice president’s death won’t derail peace process – president

KHARTOUM, Aug 1 (AFX) — Sudanese President Omar al-Beshir said he is determined to pursue the peace process despite the death of the country’s first vice president and southern leader John Garang.

‘We guarantee that the peace process will continue progressing in the same direction,’ Beshir said in an official statement announcing Garang’s death.

The former rebel leader, who became vice president just three weeks ago following a January peace deal ending two decades of north-south war, died in an air crash together with all passengers and crew on the way back from Uganda.

‘His passing will only reinforce our determination to pursue the peace process he and his comrades had started with the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM/A),’ said the statement read on public television.

The SPLM/A also said that the death of its leader Garang would not affect its commitment to a peace deal with Khartoum.

‘I take this opportunity to assure the southern Sudanese in particular and the Sudanese people in general, that we in the SPLM/A leadership will continue the vision and the objective of the movement that Dr John Garang has articulated and hoped to implement,’ said the group’s deputy commander Salva Kiiri.

‘We also want to assure everyone that the leadership and cadres of the SPLM/A will remain united and strive to faithfully implement the comprehensive peace agreement,’ he said.

On Jan 9, Garang and Vice President Ali Osman Taha had signed the landmark peace deal that ended 21 years of civil war, the longest running in Africa.