Sudan army criticises Al-Jazeera TV coverage, says assault on reporter ‘isolated’
September 7, 2011 (WASHINGTON) – The spokesperson of the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) Al-Sawarmi Khalid Sa’ad said today that the assault on an Al-Jazeera TV correspondent by Sudanese soldiers in Blue Nile state was an act of an individuals and isolated.
Osama Sayed Ahmed recounted his ordeal on Al-Jazeera Arabic TV saying that he was verbally abused and beaten up by SAF soldiers who accused him of circulating false news on Blue Nile state. He was also ordered to leave the state where fighting erupted last week between SAF and Sudan People’s Liberation Movement North (SPLM-N) military units.
SAF spokesperson said that a commission was formed to investigate this so that incidents like these are not repeated stressing that attacking journalists is “unacceptable”.
He also urged news outlets to ensure accuracy in their reporting of SAF activities adding that Al-Jazeera’s report yesterday on the heavy gunfire Blue Nile state capital of Damazin dealt a setback to of efforts made to reassure displaced citizens to return home.
Colonel Sa’ad said Al-Jazeera omitted to mention to the fact that the shooting was accidental thus opening the door wide open for speculations on a possible hostile act.
Yesterday witnesses in Damazin reported heavy gunfire and artillery bombardments that lasted for nearly 30 minutes. The electricity also went out in the city.
SAF later issued a statement saying that a government soldier had accidentally fired his gun outside Damazin and other soldiers inside the city responded by shooting their weapons.
(ST)