Sudan mourns Garang's death

2005-08-01 17:05

Nairobi - Thousands gathered in southern Sudan's provisional capital of Rumbek on Monday to mourn the weekend death of ex-rebel leader John Garang whom many there regarded as the region's main hope for peace, an official said.

Residents of the town, the provisional capital of an autonomous south under a landmark January peace deal that Garang signed with Khartoum, turned out in large numbers at Rumbek's Freedom Square.

Just three weeks ago, he was sworn in as Sudan's first vice-president.

The situation was sombre, but calm, and there were no outbursts of violence like the rioting reported in Khartoum, according to a former commander of Garang's Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) now a political operative in Rumbek.

"The town of Rumbek has been informed of this national disaster," said Pagan Amum in Nairobi by satellite phone from the dusty outpost about 900km south of Khartoum.

Taken the news with courage

"The situation is calm," he said.

"People have taken the sad news with courage and are ready forge ahead, despite the bad news."

Under the terms of the January 9 peace agreement, Rumbek is to serve as the temporary capital of autonomous southern Sudan before the government moves to the larger town of Juba.

Sudanese, Kenyan and Ugandan officials confirmed on Monday that Garang had died when the Ugandan helicopter in which he was returning to southern Sudan crashed in a remote area of the region.

- AFP