Sudanese newspaper says published statement threatening attacks ‘bogus’

March 14, 2009 (KHARTOUM) — A Sudanese newspaper described a statement attributed to Sudanese Islamic jihadists and Darfur Arab militia groups threatening terrorist attacks as a ‘lie’.

This week the pro-government Akhir-Lahza newspaper published the statement in which the alliance pledged to carry out 250 attacks against countries that are supporting the decisions of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The alliance promised “world imperialists and CIA agents in US, UK and France with another September 11 attack”.

They further deemed ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo, Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) leader Khalil Ibrahim and Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) chairman Abdel-Wahid Al-Nur as legitimate targets for assassination.

But Akhir-Lahza in what appears as a retraction, said that the groups included denied that they have issued this release.

The statement was signed by Martyr Abu-Qiseissah Suicide Group, Ansar Al-Sunnah Al-Jihadiyah group, the Group in Search of Martyrdom, the Martyr Ali Abdel-Fattah Brigade and the Darfur Lions Brigade represented by Musa Hilal.

Hilal, a Janjaweed leader, told the newspaper that he was not part of this statement nor did he sign it.

This week the US embassy said it is allowing non-essential staff to leave Sudan citing “uncertain security conditions following the expulsion of NGOs as well as harassment of humanitarian aid workers, employees of non-governmental organizations, and Westerners in general”.

It said the US government has information about “terrorist threats” aimed at American and European interests, noting that recent demonstrations have featured anti-Western rhetoric.

Akhir-Lahza quoting Sudanese security officials said that the statement was prepared by a “mentally disturbed individual” who distributed it among newspapers.

Tensions are running high in Sudan following the ICC’s decision this month to issue an arrest warrant for Sudanese president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir.

Sudanese officials have sought to warn the international community of backlash by ‘outlaws’ against Westerners if an arrest warrant is issued for Bashir.

“All options are open. We cannot predict what will happen but we will work on securing the country” Salah Gosh, the head of Sudan’s National Security and Intelligence Service in January.

(ST)