Garang's replacement named

2005-08-01 21:02

Nairobi - John Garang's long-standing deputy, Salva Kiir Mayardit, took over his key post just hours after news broke that the ex-rebel leader and vice-president of Southern Sudan was killed in a helicopter crash.

Mayardit on Monday assured the people of Sudan that the leadership of the SPLM would continue the vision and objectives of Garang and would strive to implement the comprehensive peace agreement, which was signed earlier this year.

In a statement, he called on his countrymen to stay calm.

The crash happened on Saturday night while Garang, six other Sudanese and an undisclosed number of Ugandans were flying in the presidential helicopter of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni.

Garang was travelling to New Site, his headquarters in Sudan, after he held three-day talks with Museveni in Uganda.

Rioting Sudanese clash with cops

Museveni said a panel of three experts would investigate the cause of the accident.

Reports flooded in of thousands of rioting Sudanese clashing with police in Juba, the main city in Southern Sudan.

Residents believed the Arab-dominated government in Khartoum was in some way responsible for the accident.

Shop windows were broken and shops looted and many travellers abandoned their cars in the city in fear of the rioting crowds.

Garang recently disbanded the SPLM, of which he was the leader.

But, observers feared that uncertainty over Garang's death might lead to a flare-up of hostilities between the Sudanese government and the rebel groups and rekindle the war that raged for more than 20 years.

Jan Pronk, special representative of the UN said that Garang's death, only six months after the signing of the peace agreement that brought and end to civil war, is a tragedy.

'Lasting memory for Sudanese people'

Garang was inaugurated as vice-president only three weeks ago.

"The joy and pride of the Sudanese people on July 9, the day Mr Garang's homecoming in Khartoum was celebrated, will be a long lasting memory for all Sudanese people."

Annan had offered all possible assistance to the government of Sudan and to the SPLM.

Alpha Oumar Konare, chair of the African Union, also expressed his shock and sorrow.

He said Garang's death came at a critical time in efforts to reconstruct the social, political and economic landscape of Sudan through implementing the comprehensive peace agreement, which was signed in January.

Konare said Garang left behind a great and enduring legacy, but his death also created an enormous vacuum.

- SAPA