Lam Akol survives assassination attempt

March 23, 2008 (KHARTOUM) — Former Sudanese foreign minister and controversial southern politician Lam Akol has survived an assassination attempt that killed three of his assistants, local media reported on Sunday.

The attackers targeted Akol’s convoy on Saturday in Upper Nile State, part of the autonomous south, en route back to provincial capital Malakal, reported the Sudan Media Centre, which is close to the intelligence services.

Akol escaped unhurt, but a driver, bodyguard and accountant were killed in the attack, reported the SMC. A number of people were wounded in clashes between the assailants and Akol’s bodyguards, the agency added.

Officials from the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, Akol’s political movement that fought two decades of civil war against Khartoum until a power-sharing deal was signed in 2005, were not available to comment.

Akol was replaced as foreign minister by senior SPLM official, Deng Alor, in a cabinet reshuffle last October.

The SPLM had strongly pushed for his removal over Akol’s perceived closeness to President Omar al-Beshir’s National Congress Party, its coalition partners and former enemy during the civil war.

(AFP)