Sudanese- Ugandan difference on cause of Garang's plane crash
Sudan-Uganda, Politics, 8/6/2005

Khartoum has expressed strong concern over statements made by Uganda's president, Yuri Mousivini, over the plane crash of John Garang, Sudan's vice president.

The Sudanese minister of information Abdul Baset Sabdrat called on the Ugandan authorities to hand over evidence it has to the investigation committee which was formed by the Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir.

In a statement to al-Jazeera TV on Friday, the Sudanese minister said that this information has not bee part of any investigation. He called on all sides to abstain from giving statement that are not based on facts, and not to make premature assessments for the results of official investigations of the Sudanese committee which includes members from the government and the Sudan People's Liberation movement (SPLM) which was led by John Garang.

The Sudanese foreign minister Mustafa Othman Ismael urged Uganda to cooperate with the Sudanese investigation committee. He expressed unease over the fact that Kampala did not notify Khartoum on the disappearance of Garang's plane, hours afters this news was leaked. Both the Sudanese government and the leadership of the SPLM attributed the crash incident to bad weather conditions.

But the Ugandan president said that another reason for the crash can not be excluded. Before a crowd who came to offer condolence in Pee town in southern Sudan where Garang's body was taken before his burial today, Mousivini stressed that the helicopter might have crashed because of a technical damage or an outside factor, noting that he takes all possibilities into account. He said it was decided to form an international investigation committee in the incident that includes Uganda, Kenya, the USA, Canada and Russia.

Uganda's president held talks with Garang last week and he used the same helicopter in a short flight before it carried Garang in his return back flight.

Garang's body will be buried today in Jouba following a round on the towns of southern Sudan. The funeral will be attended by the Presidents of Sudan, South Africa, Uganda, Kenya, the African commission and the director of the American agency for development.

Previous Stories:
  Uganda's al-Rab army launches attack on southern Sudan   (5/5/2005)
  Sudan, Uganda extends an agreement for security cooperation   (10/7/2003)
  Sudan affirms strong relations with Uganda   (9/24/2003)

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