Two killed in south Sudan rampage Friday

Dec 16, 2006 (JUBA) — Two people were killed and two wounded during the mutinous rampage by about 150 former rebel soldiers in the south Sudanese capital Juba on Friday, an army spokesman said on Saturday.

Salva Kiir, the president of the south Sudanese government, has promised to follow up the soldier’s demand for arrears which amount to about 18.4 million dinars ($88,000), said spokesman Major General Kuol Deim Koul.

The soldiers were from the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), which fought a guerrilla war against the central government until a peace agreement last year. They were in joint units alongside troops from the main Sudanese army.

The rioting ended on Friday afternoon after intervention by Rebecca Garang, the widow of southern rebel leader John Garang. The soldiers returned to their barracks and on Saturday they agreed to hand in their guns to the armoury, an officer said.

General Koul, who is the spokesman for the SPLA, said the rampage was illegal, embarrassing and disappointing.

“We were working day and night to meet the soldier’s basic needs. They rioted on an issue that was beyond our responsibility,” the general added.

During the rampage, one woman was killed by a stray bullet as soldiers shot in the air near the legislative assembly area and another man was killed in a car accident during the panic.

SPLA Director of Operations Major General Pieng Deng Kuol declined to comment on whether the soldiers would be disciplined.

A curfew imposed on Friday from 7 p.m. (1600 GMT) to dawn will remain in force in Juba on Saturday night, officials said.

($1 = 208 Sudanese dinars)

(Reuters)