Africa - Sudanese bombs kill 18, as visiting US official slams regime

["Yunan" <yunan@tiscalinet.it>]

Sudanese bombs kill 18, as visiting US official slams regime

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News Article by AFP posted on November 20, 2000 at 16:15:08: EST (-5 GMT)

Sudanese bombs kill 18, as visiting US official slams regime

NAIROBI, Nov 20 (AFP) - Sudanese government bombs killed 18
civilians in southern Sudan on Monday, according to joint charges by
rebels, aid workers and a visiting senior US official.

Susan Rice, US Assistant Secretary of State for African
Affairs, lambasted the Khartoum regime after a two day "humanitarian
assessment" visit to the south.

Echoing a statement released by rebel Sudan People's Liberation
Army (SPLA), she said here that "18 innocent civilians" had been
killed on an "outrageous attack" on Yei, a large town in western
Equatoria.

But Rice, who did not visit Yei but met air raid victims
elsewhere on her two-day tour, rejected the SPLA's view that by
carrying out a spate of bombings, Khartoum was targeting Rice and
her delegation.




A Sudanese boy cradles a baby while standing in front of
an abandoned armored personnel carrier in a school yard
in Rumbek town in southern Sudan, Monday Nov. 20, 2000.
The boy was one of hundreds of Sudanese who turned out
to welcome U.S Assistant Secretary of State for Africa
Susan Rice as she toured the school. (AP Photo)

"I don't share that view at all," she told journalists on her
return to Nairobi.

"This is unfortunately close to a daily occurrence throughout
southern Sudan and it has been for many many months, and in fact
years," she said.

A civil war has pitted the Khartoum regime against southerng
rebels since 1983.

Daniel Eiffe of Norwegian People's Aid, which has a presence in
Yei, told AFP after Rice's news conference that the "horrific
bombing struck the middle of a market place" killing 18 and causing
"total pandemonium."

The SPLA statement said 14 bombs were dropped on the market
place.

"The government of Sudan has to stop these horrible, heinous
bombings of civilian targets. There is no excuse for them, there is
no reason for them except to hurt honest everyday people going about
their business and to scare away those from outside who are brave
enough to come in and try to help those people," she said.

"The government of Sudan must also stop the heinous practice of
slavery and stop its support of the PDF," she said, referring to the
intelligence agency Popular Defence Forces.

Rice said she had met women "who had been captured and enslaved,
beaten, tortured and raped by the PDF operating at the behest and
with the support of the government of Sudan."

"PDF raids have become all too commonplace. Homes are raided,
houses are burnt, people are driven into the bush, forced into
slavery, pressed to abandon their religion and convert to a religion
that it not their own," said Rice.

She accused Khartoum of "unacceptable behaviour," and of
carrying out "abuse after abuse." She also described as "unfortunate
and innaccurate" the government's claim that her trip to the south
demonstrated US animosity to the regime and its support for the
SPLA.

"The US is not supporting any group or any party in any material
military way (and is) interested only in a better future, a peaceful
and democratic future for the people of Sudan," she said, noting
that Khartoum had been informed many days in advance of her visit.

According to another US official, Khartoum made good its threat
of taking action against the US if Rice's trip went ahead by
cancelling all multiple entry visas for US officials.

The US has an embassy, but no permanent diplomatic staff, in
Khartoum.





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