Twelve killed as southern Sudanese riot in Khartoum
MIL-2LD SUDAN-GARANG-KILLED
Twelve killed as southern Sudanese riot in Khartoum

KHARTOUM, Aug 1 (KUNA) -- More than 12 people were killed when thousands of southern Sudanese went on the rampage and clashed with police in the Sudanese capital on Monday after the death of former rebel leader John Garang, a police official and eyewitnesses said.

A witness saw 12 bodies at a morgue in Khartoum Hospital.

"All of the bodies died in the rioting. ... Some of the bodies are policemen," the police official told reporters at the hospital. Other police members said they expected more bodies to arrive.

Although such violence was not reported by the government, the Khartoum governor announced a curfew from 6 p.m. until 6 a.m. local time in Khartoum.

"People have been running all over the streets. The policemen are taking people from the streets. There is fire and smoke," another witness said.

The rioters, some wielding knives and bars, also looted shops and burned car tyres.

"They are beating anybody they see who looks like they are Arab," a third witness said. A key figure in a January peace deal and leader of southern Sudan's rebel movement during its two decades of war with the government in Khartoum, Garang died over the weekend after the Ugandan presidential helicopter he was traveling in went down in bad weather.

The southern Sudanese who gave Garang a tumultuous welcome during that trip turned their fury over his loss on cars and shops in the capital during several hours of rioting.

"There are groups of southern Sudanese on the streets attacking people and wrecking shops but the areas with governmental buildings are quiet," said a local taxi driver.

Some gunfire could be heard, although it was not clear if that was in mourning for Garang or from fighting.

There were also reports of violence in the south, where Garang's Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) the mainly Islamic government in Khartoum.

Police said its troops were ready for any clash with demonstrators. Security checkpoints were set up throughout the capital, particularly on Airport Road.

Sudanese President Omar Hassan Al-Bashir urged his countrymen to be "patient until the circumstances of Garang's death were elucidated." In a related development, Egypt expressed grief for Garang's death. Egyptian Foreign Minister said Monday he was hopeful the Sudanese peace process would "not suffer a setback for Garang's death." Meanwhile the Sultan of Oman Qabous Bin Said conveyed his condolences, in a cabled message, to Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir and the Sudanese people.

A similar message of condolences was sent to Khartoum by Jordanian King Abdallah II.

Another message was sent by the Jordanian government expressing hope that Garang's murder would "not destabilize the Sudanese people's progress and stability." (end) ab.

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