Bashir for pardoning rebels in the south

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has renewed his offer providing for a general pardoning of all armed rebels in southern Sudan. He added that following the peace accord signed in 1997 with certain Southern groups, there is no need for a continued war in the South.

In a speech he delivered today during his visit to Wao, the second largest city in the Southern region, President Bashir pledged the restoration of all territories currently held by the rebels.

He added that his government will persist in restoring all areas occupied by the rebels "peacefully or by means of force." He stated that his visit to Wao aims at showing that Bahr al-Gazelle sea, and Wao in particular is a calm area.

Meanwhile, clashes erupted between government forces and Southern rebels in the northern part of Bahr al-Gazelle province. The Sudanese daily Akhbar al-Yom said that government's forces destroyed two rebel camps, but the paper did not clarify the timing of the attack.