Former Eritrea defense minister in Khartoum for toppling Afourki; 84 persons arrested for spying to Asmara
Sudan-Eritrea, Politics, 11/22/2002

The Sudanese daily Akhbar al-Youm issued yesterday said that the authorities arrested 84 persons suspected to have formed a "grouping for spies to Eritrea."

The paper quoted the ruler of the Kasla province ( East) Lt. Gen. Hamid Mousa as saying that the accused persons were arrested in the province adjoining the borders with Eritrea. The paper did not specify the nationality of the arrested persons. However, Mousa announced that the investigation campaign among the Eritrean refugees contributed to preserving peace in the province. He said that the authorities had started registration of all Eritrean refugees especially during the recent fighting which took place in 2000. Mousa voiced an appeal to providing urgent financial aid to finance the police's activities. He stressed that the war left conditions in the province that are beyond the local authorities' capacities to deal with.

Worthy mentioning that Khartoum accuses Asmara of supporting the opposition which had control of Hamishkoric and Rassai to the east by the beginning of October. Eritrea rejects these accusations.

On the other hand, the Sudanese news agency said yesterday that the former Eritrean defense minister Misgn Hagous, who split from Asmara, is on a visit to Sudan to make contacts with Eritrea's opposition to discuss means of toppling the regime in Eritrea. It added that Misgin arrived in Khartoum on Wednesday to hold talks with the Sudanese officials on conditions in Eritrea. Misgin, of the ruling Eritrea's People's Front, had the post of the defense minister between 1991- 1996. He was among the reformists whose members were arrested in 2001, except him, because he was in Europe for medical treatment, according to the Sudanese daily al-Sahafi al-Dawli. The paper added that the Eritrean authorities withdrew from him his passport and prevented him from returning back home and therefore he formed an opposition party in exile under the name of the Democratic Party to which were joined all opposition ambassadors and army officers.

He was quoted by the said Sudanese paper that he had started contacts with the Sudanese officials to discuss issues of joint interest and the possibility that his party start activities from Sudan.

Misgin arrived in Sudan following a long tour which took him to Europe and the USA and Australia.

Worthy mentioning that a delegation representing the alliance of the opposition Eritrea's national forces arrived in Sudan at the beginning of this monthto start its activity there.

Previous Stories:
  Afourki denies Asmara's tense relations with Sudan   (11/15/2002)
  Khartoum permits Eritrean opposition to open offices in Sudan   (11/6/2002)
  Sudanese President confers with Eritrea's opposition delegation   (11/5/2002)

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