Presidency denies death of director of Kiir office in S. Sudan crash

May 3, 2008 (KHARTOUM) – The office of the First Vice-President denied the death of the director of the office at the Republican Palace in the tragic plane crash yesterday.

There were strong rumors in Khartoum and Juba that the director of Salva Kiir office at the Sudanese presidency, Mayan Woul, was among the victims of a plane that crashed yesterday near Rumbek due to engine failure.

Acting Director of the office Paul Shaat said that Mayan Woul had participated in SPLM meeting in Warap state but didn’t travelled in the crashed plane; adding he will remain in Warap to take part in the funeral of the victims of the accident.

Dominic Dim, the south’s defence minister, and Justin Yak, a presidential adviser for local government affairs, were on the plane that crashed near the southern town of Rumbek, on Friday.

(ST)