Sudanese President Accuses Chad of Instigating Rebel Attack

Excerpt from report by state-owned Sudanese radio on 11 May

[Presenter] President of the Republic Umar Hasan Ahmad al-Bashir was briefed at the general command HQ about the criminal acts of the Chadian mercenary troops after he arrived back in the country early this morning from the Holy Lands [Mecca], where he performed the rites of Umrah [optional pilgrimage]. Here are the President’s statements.

[Al-Bashir] Today as you know, the country, Khartoum and particularly Um-Durman [town] came under a treacherous attack from Chadian mercenaries led by Khalil Ibrahim of the so-called [rebel] Justice and Equality Movement. I would like first to reassure the Sudanese people that the situation is under control and that all invading forces have been repelled completely. [Passage omitted]

I confirm, as the general command said in its statement, that these are originally Chadian forces, supported and equipped by Chad, which moved out of Chad under the command of Khalil Ibrahim. [Passage omitted]

Khalil Ibrahim is but an agent of the Chadian regime. Therefore, we hold the Chadian regime as responsible for all of this and we reserve our right to respond to this declining regime which does not reflect the will of the brotherly Chadian people.

Originally published by Republic of Sudan Radio, Omdurman, in Arabic 0400 11 May 08.

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