Sudan's Bashir vows to "liberate" and tech South Sudan final lesson by Force
Reuters Khartoum/Juba, 18/4/2012 – Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir vowed on Wednesday to "liberate" South Sudan from its ruling party, a sharp escalation of rhetoric after fierce border clashes that edged the African neighbours closer to all-out war. In a fiery speech to members of the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) singing military songs, Bashir repeatedly referred to the South's ruling Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) as "insects", a play on their Arabic name. "Our main goal is liberation of the southern citizens from the SPLM," Bashir said. "This is our responsibility before the Southern people." He went on to predict "good news" from Heglig within a few hours, but also suggested tensions would not end until the South's ruling party collapsed. He did not specify how that might happen. "The story began in Heglig, but it will end in Khartoum or Juba," Bashir said. Shortly after the speech, South Sudan's army (SPLA) spokesman said the South's forces had repulsed "a very big attack" on Heglig, which is known as Panthou in the south. There was no immediate comment on this from Sudan or independent confirmation of the claim. Distrust runs deep between the neighbours, who are at loggerheads over the position of their border, how much the landlocked South should pay to transport its oil through Sudan and the division of national debt, among other issues. South Sudan says Heglig is its rightful territory and has said it will only withdraw if the United Nations deploys a neutral force there. ``These people don't understand, and we will give them the final lesson by force,'' Bashir told the rally in El-Obeid, North Kordofan's capital. ``We will not give them an inch of our country, and whoever extends his hand on Sudan, we will cut it.'' ``Heglig is not the end, but the beginning.'' Global powers have voiced alarm at the escalation of violence and urged the two to stop fighting and return to talks. China, a major investor in both countries, expressed ``serious concern'' about the increase of tensions and called on both sides to stop fighting, ``maintain calm and exercise maximum restraint''. “China has worked hard to ameliorate the problems between the two Sudans, and we will continue to work with the international community at mediation efforts,'' Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin told a daily news briefing. Sudan's military - with an air force, tanks and artillery - is far better equipped than the former guerrilla fighters who make up the South Sudan army. In addition to the civil war in the south, Sudan has also fought long-simmering rebellions in Kordofan and Darfur. Sudan -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "South Sudan Info - The Kob" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/SouthSudanKob?hl=en.
