Vice President of Sudan and former rebel leader dies in plane crash

[Aerich]

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Not that Sudan is particularly peaceful as it is, but Garang's death has inflamed an already bad situation.

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Violence and Rioting in Sudan

The Sudanese capital Khartoum was the scene of renewed violence Tuesday, a day after at least 36 people died in riots triggered by the death of John Garang, the country's vice-president and former rebel leader.

Officials now say that, in addition to the 36 deaths, some 300 people have been injured.

After a lull early Tuesday that followed a 12-hour overnight curfew, the violence appeared to have started again with angry mobs taking to the streets.

This time, religious tensions are flaring.

William Ezekiel, managing editor of the Khartoum Monitor newspaper, told the Associated Press he saw Arab gangs invading neighbourhoods of people from the mostly Christian south.

"The Arabs are attacking them, entering their houses and looking for southerners," said Ezekiel.

Meanwhile, a senior U.N. official told the Associated Press on condition of anonymity, that a Muslim imam had been killed by a group of angry southerners.

"The situation is turning religious and that will be even more dangerous," he said.

There's been been no independent confirmation of the violence.

Garang's remains were found Monday in the wreckage of a helicopter, along with the bodies of 13 aides and crew members.

The 60-year-old politician's helicopter disappeared in bad weather in the Kidepo area near Uganda's border with Sudan on Saturday.

Sudan is in the middle of three days of mourning.

And, while the situation is reportedly calm in the centre of Khartoum, there are reports of clashes in a shantytown south of the city.

News of Garang's death sparked rioting by his supporters who looted stores and clashed with police.

The violence came even though Garang's widow and his Sudan People's Liberation Movement said it accepted reports the crash was an accident, not foul play.

As well, the movement said Garang's deputy, Salva Kiir Mayardit, will succeed him as head of the movement and president of south Sudan.

Kiir is also expected to become the new national vice-president.

Garang's widow, Rebecca, also pleaded for calm, saying she accepted the version of what caused her husband's death.

"This was his day and I accept that God has come to collect him," she told Reuters news agency.

Garang will be buried on Saturday in the main southern town of Juba.

Sudan's peace process could be dealt a severe blow with the loss of Garang, who survived several assassination attempts while waging a 21-year war against the leadership in Khartoum.

A peace deal in January led to him becoming the country's vice-president on July 9, as well as the president of southern Sudan as the region moves toward a secession referendum within six years.

[Dreamer128]

Worse? If we had such a place as 'hell on earth', it would be most likely be Sudan. 200000 people already dead and another two million being run out of there houses.. I doubt it can get much worse for the locals.