Six killed in protests against Darfur peace deal
May 14, 2006 (KHARTOUM) — Six people were killed when demonstrators opposed to a peace deal the Sudanese government signed with Darfur rebels clashed with police in the war-torn region.
The deadliest clashes occurred in and around camps for internally displaced persons in South Darfur state, where three civilians reportedly died in an exchange of gunfire between demonstrators and the police on Saturday.
The unrest began when protesters denouncing the peace agreement beat to death a military intelligence agent inside the Kass camp, the Al Rai al-Aam daily said Sunday.
Police acting on a tip dispatched a task force to rescue the man, but the team ran into a group of protesters moving towards a nearby Africa Union (AU) camp and a gun battle ensued, the paper added.
“In an exchange of fire between the police and the protestors who had three rifles, three civilians were killed and two others were injured,” it quoted area commissioner Ahmed Babikir as saying.
The deal reached in Abuja, Nigeria was signed May 5 by the Khartoum government and the main faction of the larger of the two main rebel movements, the Sudanese Liberation Movement.
But the smaller Justice and Equality Movement refused as did the smaller SLM faction headed by Abdelwahid Mohammed el-Nur.
Witnesses said the protesters were chanting slogans in support of Nur, according to al-Rai al-Aam newspaper.
An old man and a child were killed in similar violence in the Abu Shouk camp for displaced persons on the outskirts of al-Fashir, the capital of North Darfur state, according to an official statement issued by the regional government of North Darfur State.
“Just when North Darfur state looks forward to the peace that was signed in Abuja with joy and happiness, the enemies of peace are aspiring to stain the peace that has become a reality,” an official statement said.
“This morning a group of displaced persons opposed to the agreement from Abu Shouk camp vandalised some vehicles belonging to the AU and nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) and headed towards al-Salam camp to instigate their brothers in this camp,” it added.
“Police confronted them and prevented them from carrying out their plans. Some of the protesters then returned to Abu Shouk and began shooting at policemen and those who refused to join them,” the statement said.
“This led to the death of an old man and a child,” it continued, adding that another person was also injured in the incident.
The conflict in Darfur erupted in February 2003 when rebels from minority tribes rose up against the central government in Khartoum, prompting a fierce crackdown by troops and a proxy militia called the Janjaweed.
The combined effect of war and famine has left up to 300,000 people dead and displaced more than two million.
(ST)