Sudanese forces restore back Tourit; Garang does not oppose signing a truce before negotiations
Sudan, Politics, 10/9/2002

The Sudanese government has liberated the southern city of Tourist, and with that, Sudan has restored back its military and political control it had lost and lead to its pullout from Mashakos negotiations on September 1st.

Well-informed sources denied that the rebels had succeeded in blocking the road linking port Sudan, Kasla and Khartoum but did not deny that these forces achieved advances to new positions closer to the strategic roads.

The same sources accused the US of provoking Eritrea to return back to perform a military role in the Sudanese crisis after the al-Bashir government announced suspension of its participation in Mashakos negotiations.

Meantime, the Sudanese army said in a statement that its forces which destroyed tanks for the rebels "restored back control on Tourist on Tuesday morning, back to the homeland." The statement which was broadcast by the radio and the TV said that "this victory came following violent fighting lasted for two weeks during which the army inflicted heavy human losses in the rebels."

However, the spokesman for the rebels, Yasser Arman, who confirmed that the "regime's forced entered Tourit" said that rebels forces "withdrew regularly with all its men and weapons because the Sudanese regime had put all its potentials, and regular forces and Mujahedeen in Tourit." Few hours later, the spokesman for the rebels Samson Kawaji said that he does not, in principle deny signing a cease fire agreement before resuming peace talks on October 14.

Previous Stories:
  Al-Bashir: peace is Sudan's strategic option   (10/8/2002)
  Mubarak talks with Sudanese president on Eritrea involvement with the rebels   (10/7/2002)
  Sudanese forces withdrew for the rebels; Khartoum accuses Eritrea   (10/7/2002)

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