Security Council condemns JEM attack against Sudan’s govt
May 13, 2008 (UNITED NATIONS) — The UN Security Council condemned Darfur rebel attack on the Sudanese capital last Saturday May 10 in Khartoum’s twin city of Omdurman. He further warned against any retaliation that can affect regional stability.
The British envoy to the UN John Sawers who holds Security Council presidency for May, said the Council strongly condemns the attacks perpetrated by the rebel Justice and Equality Movement against the Sudanese Government in Omdurman. He also urged all the parties to stop immediately violence.
The 15-member body warned that no retaliatory action should be taken against civilian populations, or that has an impact on stability in the region.
The Sudanese government launched a large-scale hunting operation against the JEM leader Khalil Ibrahim in northern Darfur. It also expected to carry out important military offensive against the rebel troops in Darfur.
The Security Council urged “the States of the region” to implement Dakar agreement signed last March in the sideline of the Islamic Conference Organisation with the presence of the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon.
However it didn’t followed the Sudanese demand to condemn Chad as instigator of the rebels attack.
The British Ambassador told the press that there are remarkable similarities between “this odious and futile attack” by Darfur rebels “with events of last January when Chadian rebels launched a much more threatening attack on N’djamena.”
The added “it is right to condemn actions of rebel groups when they act completely out of line” with all the UN and international community efforts for peace in the region.
Sudan in its complaint to the Security Council asked to condemn Chad for its support to the May 10 attack on Omdurman.
The Sudanese government said in its letter to the Security Council that Chadian support to the rebels led to a cease of effectiveness of Dakar agreement. It also cited the names of some Chadian officers saying they led the rebel attack.
Khartoum also asked the Council to designate JEM as a terrorist movement. Also it accused the rebel group of hindering the peace process to end the five year conflict in Darfur.
(ST)