Sudan says would not respond to Chad’s provocations
May 16, 2009 (KHARTOUM) — Sudan said today that Chadian army planes raided today for the third time the region of Darfur but toned down its rhetoric calling for political solution to the political crisis in the neighboring country.
However, Masar urged the Chadian president to solve his internal problem though political means and to avoid military escalation. He denied Sudanese involvement in the Chadian affairs saying relations between the two peoples are solid and Sudan supports Chad economically.
He also said what is happening in Chad is an extension of the ramping corruption as well as non-recognition of the opposition by what he called “tribal government” that refuse to associate opposition to the administration of the country.
The Presidential adviser accused Chad of implementing agendas of countries that have an interest in drawing to war Chad and Sudan, which are “the security gateway of Africa and the Arab world.” He stressed that Sudan would not respond to the provocations of the government of Chad.
Sudan would deal wisely with its neighbor Chad, especially the country is engaged in internal arrangements of the elections and resolution of Darfur problem, Masar stressed.
Sudanese government which can militarily respond to the Chadian raids seems preferring to play the role of wise country and to draw regional and International sympathy. Also seems succeeding to shed focus on the instable political situation in Chad.
Today the UN deputy secretary general Haile Menkerios, speaking from Addis Ababa, urged Chad to take the diplomatic path, to end its difference with Sudan and to negotiate with rebels.
Al-Aghbash, the Sudanese army spokesperson, stressed that the decision of political leadership in the country does not reflect any weakness in the military capabilities of the armed forces.
He reaffirmed there are no casualties on the ground after the attacks but as such it represents a violation of the territorial integrity and the sovereignty of the Sudan.
Over the past week, Western diplomatic and military observers have backed claims by Deby’s government that the Chadian rebels launched they attack on May 4 from the Sudanese territory.
The rebel Union of Forces for Resistance (UFR) said they were forced to leave Sudan after Doha agreement between Sudan and Chad. However observers say Khartoum wanted to press rebels to take a decisive action against Deby who is backing rebels in Darfur province.
Peace between Chad and Sudan is regarded as essential to any lasting settlement to the six-year-old conflict in Darfur.
According to the United Nations, some 300,000 people have died in the Darfur conflict. Khartoum puts the death toll at 10,000.
(ST)