Egypt calls giving up threats to punish Khartoum; bloody demonstrations coincides with Powell's tour, Annan in Sudan
Sudan-Egypt, Politics, 7/1/2004

Ten students were at least injured yesterday in Khartoum in clashes between the police and about 400 students from Darfour as they were taking the streets in a demonstration to hand over the UN secretary general Kofi Annan a message calling for an international interference in this district.

The secretary general of the Khartoum university students union, Tahamid Omar Jibril, said that it was not possible to admit the injured into hospital because the police prevented ambulances from entering the university complex where the injured were admitted, stressing that many of them are seriously injured.

Jibril accused the Sudanese police of firing live bullets and tear gas against students, denouncing resorting to violence in confronting his colleagues. He said that at least one student was detained, Ibrahim Abdul Wahab, a member of the students union's council.

The Sudanese authorities banned the organization of any demonstration coinciding with the visit of Annan and the US secretary of state Colin Powell. The organizers of the demonstrations said last Sunday that its objective was to protest against the US and the UN "doubled standards" in the world.

Powell, however, arrived yesterday in al-Fasher to be acquainted by himself with the reality of conditions in the district after he had addressed a message of warning to the Sudanese authorities.

One American official accompanying Powell said that Washington will carry out in a later time due yesterday ( Wednesday ) non- official consultations in New York to discuss the UN Security Council decision deploring the Sudanese government because of its position in Darfour.

Powell called on the Sudanese President to end up attacks launched by the pro- government militias in Darfour and the resumption of talks with the rebels and removing all obstacles before humanitarian aids and permitting greater number of observers in the region.

The Sudanese foreign minister Othman Ismael reacted to Powell's statements by saying that the Sudanese government is making its utmost efforts to contain the crisis in Darfour. He expressed his hope to reach an agreement over finding a set mechanism for humanitarian work and ensuring security in Darfour during Annan and Powel's visit.

In reaction to these threats, the Egyptian foreign minister Ahmed Maher called for solving the crisis in Darfour away from " threats and sanctions." Maher said in a press conference that the " Sudanese government is exerting all its efforts to withstand the current problem in Darfour and settling it, at the humanitarian or political levels."

Previous Stories:
  Annan looms of punishment measures against Sudan   (6/30/2004)
  Inter- Sudanese negotiations resumed   (6/28/2004)
  Al-Mahdi accuses the government of committing mistakes; American -Libyan co-ordination over Darfour crisis   (6/28/2004)
  Al-Gomhuri : Bashir: Joint history, geography compel Egypt, Sudan integration   (6/24/2004)

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