Sudan SPLM names Salva Kiir new leader

NEW SITE, Sudan, Aug 1 (AFP) — Southern Sudan’s former rebel group on Monday named Salva Kiir as its new leader to replace Vice President John Garang, who died in a helicopter crash over the weekend, the Sudanese People’s Liberation Movement said.

Kiir, who was the group’s deputy leader, should also become vice president under the peace deal signed in January to end the 21-year civil war between the SPLM/A rebels and the Khartoum government.