Keer to work for unity and development of Sudan

Sudan's new Frist Vice President, Sylva keer, started his first day in the Presidential Palace on Thursday by repeating what he had vowed, to implement the peace agreement his predecessor John Garang signed with the government of Khartoum.

Keer who was greatly welcomed in the Presidential palace and the headquarters of the government where a special session was held in his honor in a meeting with the minister for the Republic's presidential affairs al-Tayeb Ibrahim Muhammad Khair, and heads of departments of the Presidential palace said that the new era will witness "complete cooperation with everyone in implementing a comprehensive peace agreement."

He Sudanese news agency quoted Keer as saying that "consultations and joint leadership and efforts to get the support of experts will be the elements of the new phase, so as to be able to work with the same spirit started with John Garang."

Keer renewed his commitment to the implementation of the peace agreement. He said "we should not stop and look backward. Though the death of 'Garang' was a loss for the whole nation, we have to continue what we have started in Nairobi in January this year."

Keer added "we cannot go back to the long war, and we do not have the desire to return back to camps, rather we want to stop all these and work together to rebuild and rehabilitate and develop Sudan as a whole, so as people will not be obliged to migrate their villages to the cities."

He indicated that "Sudan owns several elements that can place it in the forefront of the African countries and the world countries in general." The southern Sudan militias ( South Sudan defense forces, which is led by Paulino Matab) expressed support for Keer's desire to maintain a dialogue. Matab announced following his meeting with Keer in the capital Khartoum the possibility of making a south- south inter dialogue. He said "Sylva Keer has a vision which is different from his predecessor John Garang," and he had announced his desire to cooperate with the military groups, and for that reasons "we want to take part in the government of southern Sudan and the national unity government."

On the other hand, the special court which was formed by Khartoum to consider war crimes in Darfur West, Khartoum issued its first sentences in al-Fasher on Thursday and sentenced three members of the armed forces for five years imprisonment.