|
African leaders mourn Sudan's Garang, welcome Kiir
04 Aug 2005 18:49:37 GMT
Source: Reuters
|
ADDIS ABABA, Aug 4 (Reuters) - African leaders paid homage on Thursday to Sudan's late vice-president John Garang and welcomed his replacement at the head of the former southern rebel movement he led for more than two decades. African Union (AU) leaders meeting in Ethiopia also expressed "deep concern" at three days of rioting that erupted after Garang's death in a weekend helicopter crash and have killed at least 130 people, most in the capital Khartoum. "Council urged all Sudanese parties concerned to vigorously pursue their efforts aimed at bringing about lasting peace and reconciliation" via the January north-south peace agreement, the AU's Peace and Security Council said in a statement. Implementation of that accord -- which gave Garang the vice-presidency last month and ended 21 years of north-south civil war -- would help peace in other conflicts facing Sudan such as in its western Darfur region, the statement added. The AU sent condolences for Garang's death, which it noted came "at a critical time" for the peace process in Africa's largest nation, split between a largely Muslim north and a mainly Christian or animist south. "Council paid tribute to Dr. Garang for his courage and commitment to the cause of peace...and for the bold steps he took to reach out for reconciliation and cooperation with his erstwhile adversaries," the statement added. "Council welcomed the appointment of Commander Salva Kiir as chairman of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement and president of the regional government of South Sudan," it added, also praising his public statements of commitment to the peace plan.
|
|
|
Reset