Military preparations by Khartoum to restore Tourit
Sudan, Politics, 9/6/2002

The Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir said that the army has the full right to use heavy weapons in order to restore back Tourist town which came under the rebels control last Sunday.

In statements quoted by the Sudanese daily al-Sahafi al-Dawli on Thursday, al-Bashir added "we have announced the state of alert, and I instructed the armed forces to take all measures to restore back Tourit, Kaboyta and all other lands recently seized by the rebels."

Al-Bashir had asked the government's delegation to Mashakos negotiations with the rebels to pullout and return back to Khartoum, following the violent attack launched by the rebels against Tourit that ended with its fall and the withdrawal of the Sudanese army from it, while negotiations in Kenya were at fundamental and decisive points.

On the other hand, a statement by the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), the organization which includes the rebels led by John Garang, stressed that the movement is ready to resume the dialogue with Khartoum to underline the importance of reaching peaceful bases for negotiations, and to give up beating of the "drums of war." For this purpose, the SPLM deputy chairman will meet in Nairobi next Tuesday with the US under secretary of state for African affairs and will discuss with him means of resuming the dialogue with the Sudanese government.

Previous Stories:
  Al-Sahafi al-Dawli: Sudan denies transporting Qaida's gold shipments to Sudan   (9/5/2002)
  Sudan to rebels: you cannot have peace and guns   (9/4/2002)
  Mashakos agreement falls, Sudan suspends negotiations, prepares for battle   (9/3/2002)

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