Sudan cuts ties with Chad
- added May 12, 2008
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- yai
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Sudan severed ties with Chad Sunday, accusing its neighbor of backing a rebel assault on the capital and raising the possibility of new border clashes that could worsen Darfur's humanitarian crisis.
A curfew was lifted in Sudan's capital but residents hunkered inside and security remained tight a day after the government repulsed an unprecedented assault on Khartoum by Darfur rebels.
In the capital's twin city of Omdurman, frightened residents emerged slowly to find buildings pockmarked with bullet holes and streets littered with charred cars. Women draped in flowered gowns stepped around huge armored personnel carriers, inspecting the damage. The city's main market was closed and residents milled around on side streets, staying off main roads lined with checkpoints.
"We were worried at first, that Khartoum may again be unsafe," said Hatem, a 45-year-old Omdurman resident who would not give his last name, fearing government reprisal. "We are extremely cautious."
"Police are searching for rebels on the run and are pestering us for IDs," he said.
A curfew was lifted in Khartoum but not in Omdurman, where police told state media that more than 300 rebels were arrested and many more had tossed away their camouflage uniforms to blend in with urban civilians.
Credit: Associated Press
A curfew was lifted in Sudan's capital but residents hunkered inside and security remained tight a day after the government repulsed an unprecedented assault on Khartoum by Darfur rebels.
In the capital's twin city of Omdurman, frightened residents emerged slowly to find buildings pockmarked with bullet holes and streets littered with charred cars. Women draped in flowered gowns stepped around huge armored personnel carriers, inspecting the damage. The city's main market was closed and residents milled around on side streets, staying off main roads lined with checkpoints.
"We were worried at first, that Khartoum may again be unsafe," said Hatem, a 45-year-old Omdurman resident who would not give his last name, fearing government reprisal. "We are extremely cautious."
"Police are searching for rebels on the run and are pestering us for IDs," he said.
A curfew was lifted in Khartoum but not in Omdurman, where police told state media that more than 300 rebels were arrested and many more had tossed away their camouflage uniforms to blend in with urban civilians.
Credit: Associated Press
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Wow, this is the absolute last thing that is needed in this region right now. The problem in Sudan is already out of control, and maybe the only thing positive that can come from this, is that it shines a larger spotlight on an issue that needed to be resolved yesterday...
Raheim -
It seems the situation might get worse before it gets better. Darfur's rebel leader, Khalil Ibraiim, said he would launch more attacks in Khartoum until the government fell. The Justice and Equality Movement leader said this weekend's attack was "just the start of a process and the end is the termination of this regime."
And here's an interesting NYT analysis about why the rebels attacked the capital.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/12/world/africa/12sudan....
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Following the government's repulsion of the alleged Chad attack, The Sudan President, Omar al-Bashir claimed the rebels had been "totally destroyed" by his army. "These forces are basically Chadian forces supported and prepared by Chad ... We are now cutting diplomatic relations with this regime."
I agree that things are going to get worse before they stand a chance of getting sorted.
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them being Chadian forces isn't entirely true, i watched a conference on the darfur situation when i was in chicago. Chads been taking in refugees for ages and the Sudan was pissed off they weren't giving them back to be killed, there were minor clashes, and the diplomats were playing it cool, but its about time its heated up.
the Sudan forces have been doing appalling things in Darfur, and if Chad wants to then help arm Sudanese freedom fighters and give them a border into their country i am all for it. better than yanky military activity, they might miss wipe out a village and accidently lay a pipeline.
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