Sudan FM asks UN’s help in Garang’s death investigation

Aug 23, 2005 (New York) — Sudanese Foreign Minister has asked the United Nations to help the investigation into the July 30 helicopter crash that killed southern rebel leader John Garang, a U.N. spokesman said Monday.

The United Nations has agreed to provide transportation and logistics and may help examine evidence from the scene of the crash, spokesman Farhan Haq said.

Garang died in the crash of a helicopter owned by Uganda’s president, Yoweri Museveni, just weeks after taking office as Sudan’s vice president.

Haq said Sudan delivered the request on Thursday. He said it was possible that the International Civil Aviation Organization could become involved as well. The U.N.-affiliated agency, headquartered in Montreal, sets aviation safety standards.

Sudan’s government and Garang’s Sudan People’s Liberation Movement already set up a team to investigate the crash and asked several countries to help. On Friday, investigators said the probe would take about six months.

AP/ST