Sudan Reimposes Curfew in Omdurman; Rebels Promise More Attacks
By Derek Kilner
Nairobi
12 May 2008
Sudanese authorities have arrested opposition leader Hassan al-Turabi and other members of his party. As Derek Kilner reports from VOA's East Africa bureau in Nairobi, security forces in the capital Khartoum continue to seek out rebels from the Justice and Equality Movement that attacked the outskirts of the city on Saturday.
Sudanese officials say Hassan al-Turabi and at least four other members of his Popular Congress Party were arrested under suspicion of links to the Justice and Equality Movement rebels.
Government spokesman Rabie Atti said the arrests were based on information provided by captured rebels.
"Some people have been arrested as a precaution, because of some information which came from the arrested people who attacked Omdurman," said Atti. "They are saying there is some connection between them and Turabi's people. Up to now there is no evidence that there is any participation or contribution."
Turabi was the leading Islamist ideologue in the National Islamic Front, which took power in a 1989 coup led by President Omar al-Bashir. Turabi helped drive Sudan's policy in the 1990s of welcoming Islamist terrorists, including Osama bin Laden.
But he fell out of favor with President Bashir in 1999. President Bashir has twice previously detained Turabi, most recently from 2004 to 2005.
Many of the rebels in the Justice and Equality Movement, including its leader Khalil Ibrahim, worked alongside Turabi in the National Islamic Front.
Turabi has long been suspected of ties to the Justice and Equality Movement, but members of Turabi's Popular Congress Party deny support for, or influence over, the rebel group.
University of Khartoum political scientist Safwat Fanous says the government has suggested the rebels were assisted by people within the capital, and may suspect members of Turabi's party.
"Maybe the security authorities have some evidence that the Popular Congress Party is involved in one way or another, because the authorities have been talking about, quote-unquote, a fifth column," said Fanous. "They have been talking about elements inside Khartoum that gave support to these troops."
Others suggest that Bashir's National Congress Party is simply using the attack as a chance to crack down on political opponents.
Meanwhile, the Sudanese government extended a curfew in Omdurman, Khartoum's twin city across the Nile where the fighting took place. Security forces are continuing to look for rebels believed to be hiding out.
Justice and Equality Movement leaders have threatened further attacks on the capital if the government does not make concessions, but few observers believe the rebels have the capacity for another large offensive in the near future.
Fanous says many residents of Khartoum have been impressed with the government's response to the attack.
"The ability of the security forces to put down the attack in a matter of two or three hours maximum was looked on favorably by the Sudanese public opinion, regarding their welfare, their safety," added Fanous. "They do have big faith in the army, the security, and the police, to maintain their safety."
But he says Khartoum's residents will also be looking for an explanation as to why the rebels were able to reach as far as they did.
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