'We are waiting for you'

2008-05-14 21:05

Khartoum - Tens of thousands of Sudanese descended on the streets of Khartoum on Wednesday, shouting nationalist slogans to denounce a Darfur rebel attack on the capital which killed more than 200 people.

Sudan urged the world to list the rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) as a terrorist group after Saturday's attack, the first time in decades of civil war that rebels from Sudan's peripheries had brought fighting to Khartoum.

Dressed in military fatigues, President Omar Hassan al-Bashir led the crowd in chants against the rebels and their leader, Khalil Ibrahim. Even supporters of opposition parties joined the rally.

"(JEM) is implementing foreign agendas," Bashir said, brandishing his traditional Sudanese staff. "They have nothing to do with Darfur... they brought children and paid them money to come and occupy Khartoum." he said.

Sudan accuses neighbouring Chad of backing the attack, in which more than 300 heavily armed rebel vehicles sped across 640 km of desert to the western Khartoum suburb of Omdurman.

'We are not scared'

The assault was only halted at the bridge leading to central Khartoum, army headquarters and the presidential palace.

"Forget the men. We Sudanese women are ready and waiting for you," said Ihtimad Ali, 32, at the anti-rebel rally. "We are not scared."

Some in the crowd, however, questioned how the rebels had been able to reach the city largely unopposed. The rebels have vowed to renew attacks to try to bring down Bashir, in power since a 1989 coup.

Officials said the government had briefed foreign diplomats on the attack and called for JEM to be listed as a terrorist organisation. That could mean its funds are frozen overseas and bring possible travel bans on its leaders.

"We think that it is beyond doubt that JEM is a terrorist organisation and through diplomatic means we are going to ask them to hand over all the JEM leaders in other countries," said senior foreign ministry official Mutrif Siddig.

UN warning

The UN Security Council strongly condemned the attack on Tuesday, but warned Khartoum not to retaliate against civilians.

Rights groups have expressed concern at reports of mass arrests, torture and two public executions of Darfuris and others following the assault.

- Reuters