DATE=2/12/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-226668
TITLE=SUDAN CRASH (L) OVERNIGHTER
BYLINE=SCOTT STEARNS
DATELINE=KHARTOUM
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: SUDANESE REBELS SAY THEY'VE SHOT DOWN A PLANE CARRYING
THE COUNTRY'S VICE PRESIDENT. AS V-O-A'S SCOTT STEARNS REPORTS.
SEVEN OTHERS WERE ALSO KILLED IN WHAT THE GOVERNMENT SAYS WAS AN
ACCIDENT.
///ACTUALITY PRAYERS FADE UNDER TEXT///
TEXT: HUNDREDS OF MOURNERS GATHERED ON THE LAWN OF KHARTOUM'S
REPUBLICAN PALACE FOR PRAYERS IN MEMORY OF FIRST VICE PRESIDENT
AL-ZUBAIR MOHAMMED SALEH. LONG LINES OF WHITE ROBED MOURNERS PAID
THEIR CONDOLENCES TO PRESIDENT OMAR HASSAN AL-BASHIR. MANY HAD
TEARS IN THEIR EYES. ONE MAN FELL TO THE GRASS CRYING.
THE GOVERNMENT SAID GENERAL SALEH DIED THURSDAY WHEN HIS SMALL
PLANE SLID OFF THE RUNWAY IN THE TOWN OF NASIR, 800 KILOMETERS
SOUTH OF THE CAPITAL, KHARTOUM. THE PLANE WAS TRYING TO LAND IN
WHAT THE GOVERNMENT SAYS WAS HEAVY FOG, WHEN IT HIT THE MIDDLE OF
THE RUNWAY AND SLID INTO THE SOBAT RIVER.
//OPT// THE STATE RUN NEWS AGENCIES SAYS SEVEN OTHERS ARE
CONFIRMED DEAD IN THE CRASH INCLUDING TELEVISION CAMERAMAN AND
SEVERAL CIVIL SERVANTS. THERE ARE REPORTS OF SURVIVORS -- BUT
ITS NOT YET CLEAR HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE ON BOARD. //END OPT///
SOUTHERN REBELS, SAY THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR BRINGING THE PLANE
DOWN. THEY SAY THEY SHOT IT OUT OF THE SKY AND THE GOVERNMENT IS
TRYING TO COVER-UP BY CALLING IT AN ACCIDENT. A SPOKESMAN FOR
THE SUDAN PEOPLE'S LIBERATION ARMY TOLD REPORTERS IN KENYA THAT
REBELS SHOT THE PLANE DOWN WHEN IT CROSSED OVER AN AREA THEY
CONTROL.
NASIR IS IN SUDAN'S UPPER NILE PROVINCE HELD BY A REBEL GROUP
OPPOSED TO THE S-P-L-A. FIGHTERS LOYAL TO REBEL LEADER RIAK
MACHAR BROKE AWAY FROM THE S-P-L-A AND ARE NOW FIGHTING ALONG
SIDE GOVERNMENT TROOPS.
MR. MACHAR LOST HIS SENIOR AID IN THE CRASH. AROK TON AROK
HELPED TO NEGOTIATE AN APRIL PEACE ACCORD BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT
AND SEVERAL SMALLER REBEL GROUPS.
THE GOVERNMENT SAYS THE DELEGATION WAS ON IT'S WAY TO MALAKAL TO
MEET WITH LOCAL LEADERS ABOUT THE UPCOMING NATIONAL CONGRESS.
S-P-L-A REBELS SAY THE PLANE WAS ON ITS WAY TO THE BESIEGED
SOUTHERN CITY OF JUBA WHEN THE CLAIMED THEY SHOT IT DOWN.
VICE PRESIDENT SALEH WAS A KEY MEMBER OF THE RULING NATIONAL
ISLAMIC FRONT, POPULAR AMONG THE MILITARY. GENERAL SALEH'S
BRAVERY DURING THE 1989 COUP THAT BROUGHT THEM TO POWER EARNED
HIM THE NICKNAME RAMBO.
KHARTOUM UNIVERSITY STUDENT ASIM KHIDIR WAS AMONG THOSE WHO PAID
THEIR RESPECTS AT THE REPUBLICAN PALACE. HE SAYS THE VICE
PRESIDENT WAS A MAN COMMITTED TO PEACE.
///ACT TWO///
GENERAL ZUBAIR IS A VERY HUMBLE MAN AND I HAVE GOT LOTS
OF RESPECT FOR HIM AND WHAT HE DID FOR COUNTRY. ///
EDITORS : SMALL EDIT, CUT FORWARD TO.... /// HE
HELPED THE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND A LOT OF WHAT IS GOING ON,
THE SITUATION AND HELP THEM TO TRY TO MAKE PEACE AND GO
WITH WHAT'S RIGHT IN THE COUNTRY.
///END ACT///
GENERAL SALEH RECEIVED MILITARY TRAINING IN THE FORMER SOVIET
UNION, EGYPT AND GERMANY. THE 54-YEAR-OLD OFFICER WAS A MEMBER
OF SUDAN'S REVOLUTIONARY COUNCIL BEFORE BEING NAMED FIRST VICE
PRESIDENT IN 1996. HE'S SURVIVED BY A WIFE AND THREE CHILDREN.
PRESIDENT AL-BASHIR HAS DECLARED MARTYRDOM FOR GENERAL SALEH,
PRAISING WHAT HE CALLED "HIS INCESSANT CONTRIBUTION TO PEACE AND
SECURITY ACROSS SUDAN."
THE GENERAL IS SCHEDULED TO BE BURIED IN A STATE FUNERAL FRIDAY
MORNING. (SIGNED)
NEB/SKS/PCF/WDC/ENE-T/PT
12-Feb-98 7:46 PM EST (0046 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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