An investigation committee on Garang's death

In a televised speech, the Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir yesterday stressed the ability of the authority to impose security and the supremacy of the law following the bloody events in the capital Khartoum, following the death of his first deputy John Garang.

Bashir said he ordered the formation of a joint investigation committee with the people's movement (SPLm) to find out the facts and conditions of the death of Garang. Garang died in a Ugandan President's plane crash which was taking him from Uganda to southern Sudan.

The Ugandan minister of state for foreign affairs Okilo Oriem said that three Ugandan experts will take part in the investigation committee which was declared by the Sudanese government.

In "New Site" area in the south of Sudan, chairman of the new people's movement (SPLM), Sylva Keer, met with top American officials. They are the US under secretary of state for Sudan's affairs, Kony Newman, and the special American envoy to Sudan, Roger Winter.

Following the meeting, Newman expressed her country's continued support for the comprehensive peace agreement and for the people of Sudan. She offered condolences on the death of Garang and her support for the movement's new leadership.

The two American envoys are to head for Jouba, southern Sudan and then to north Khartoum to meet with the Sudanese President. Key leaders of the movement met earlier on Wednesday with the foreign minister of south Africa Dalameini Zouma.