Sudan moves to retake lost town

06/09/2002| IslamWeb

Hundreds of government supporters have been out on the streets of Sudan's capital, Khartoum, to protest against the rebel capture of a southern town. Addressing the crowds, President Omar al-Bashir once again vowed that the garrison town of Torit would be retaken by government forces. Only six weeks ago, both sides reached a framework deal aimed at ending Sudan's 19-year civil war.

But President Bashir broke off peace talks in Kenya with the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) rebels on Monday over the fall of Torit.

Sudan's Government has been airlifting troops to its main stronghold in the rebel occupied south, the garrison town of Juba.

The BBC's Alfred Taban in Khartoum says he understands they have started advancing towards Torit - some 130 km away - but there has been no engagement yet with the rebels.

"The jihad process will continue until peace, security and stability is achieved," Mr Bashir told the demonstrators.

Talks

The government has said that the talks would not resume until the rebels stopped their offensive.

Kenyan President Daniel arap Moi met Sudan's chief government negotiator on Thursday and was reported to have been assured that the government remained committed to the talks process.

But the government has also been on the offensive, with Khartoum seizing strategic positions around the oil fields in western Upper Nile.

The United States has pressured both sides to end the war and says it is "deeply disappointed" by the government's pull-out from the talks.

The SPLA is fighting for greater autonomy for the Christian and animist south from the Arab and Muslim dominated government in Khartoum.

PHOTO CAPTION

Hundreds of government supporters have been out on the streets of Sudan's capital, Khartoum, to protest against the rebel capture of a southern