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South Sudan fears return to war Bashir 'preparing for Sudan war'
(1 day later)
Former rebels in South Sudan have strongly criticised President Omar al-Bashir, after he threatened to rearm northern militias despite a peace deal. The leader of South Sudan's former rebels has accused President Omar al-Bashir of "mobilising for war".
The president "almost declared war", one Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) official told the BBC. On Saturday, the president threatened to rearm northern militias despite a 2005 peace deal.
Mr Bashir called on the militias "to open training camps and to gather mujahideen not for the sake of war but to be ready for anything." Mr Bashir called on the militias "to open training camps and to gather mujahideen, not for the sake of war but to be ready for anything."
The 20-year civil war, which killed some two million people, ended in 2005. The deal to end a 20-year civil war, which killed some two million people, has been in trouble for some time.
As part of that deal, the SPLM joined a national unity government but they withdrew their ministers last month, accusing Mr Bashir of reneging on parts of the agreement. The Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) withdrew from a national unity government last month, accusing Mr Bashir of reneging on parts of the agreement.
'Drums of war' 'Self-defence'
SPLM leader Salva Kiir, who is national vice-president, accused Khartoum of re-arming the militias.
He was speaking to a large crowd at a rally in the southern capital, Juba, following his return from a trip to the United States.
Mr Kiir said he would never take the south back to war but reserved the right to self-defence if it came under attack.
He warned his supporters to guard against war-mongering by Mr Bashir's National Congress Party.
NCP Youth Department Secretary Haj Majed Suwar told the state-owned Sudan Media Centre that members had "started assembling mujahideen who [were] waiting eagerly to execute the president's order".
President Omar al-Bashir was speaking at a celebration organised by the Popular Defence Force (PDF) on Saturday.President Omar al-Bashir was speaking at a celebration organised by the Popular Defence Force (PDF) on Saturday.
"This is a provocation, and he's beating the drums of war," SPLM ambassador in the US Ezeikel Gatkout told the BBC.
The PDF are accused of committing widespread atrocities during both the conflicts in South Sudan, and more recently in Darfur.The PDF are accused of committing widespread atrocities during both the conflicts in South Sudan, and more recently in Darfur.
But a leading member of Mr Bashir's National Congress Party, Nafie Ali Nafie, downplayed the president's comments, telling the independent daily Akhir Lahaza that "relations with the SPLM will never go to the brink of collapse." Leading NCP member Nafie Ali Nafie downplayed the president's comments, telling the independent daily Akhir Lahaza that "relations with the SPLM will never go to the brink of collapse."
The southern ministers say they would only return to the national unity government if 11 key issues were tackled, including the fate of the disputed oil-rich Abyei area, marking the north-south border and the removal of the pro-northern militias from the south.The southern ministers say they would only return to the national unity government if 11 key issues were tackled, including the fate of the disputed oil-rich Abyei area, marking the north-south border and the removal of the pro-northern militias from the south.
In his speech, Mr Bashir also said he was committed to peace in the south but also said he would not make any changes to the status of Abyei, which he says lies in the north.In his speech, Mr Bashir also said he was committed to peace in the south but also said he would not make any changes to the status of Abyei, which he says lies in the north.
Southern leader Salva Kiir, who has just returned from a visit to Washington where he met President George Bush, is expected to meet the SPLM leadership to discuss the latest twist in the crisis.
As part of the 2005 peace deal, the mainly Christian and animist South is due to vote in 2011 on whether or not to seek independence from the Muslim- and Arab-dominated north.As part of the 2005 peace deal, the mainly Christian and animist South is due to vote in 2011 on whether or not to seek independence from the Muslim- and Arab-dominated north.