Arab media

February 14 , 2008

Source: Al Ahram (government-friendly, Egyptian daily with over 1 million in circulation)
Op/Ed: Egypt’s Responsibility toward Sudan’s Stability

• Sudan’s First Vice President Silva Kiir met with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to discuss peace and stability in Sudan and Egypt’s responsibility to preserve Sudan’s territorial integration
• Egypt is - at all levels – expending tireless effort to prevent Sudan from breaking up or returning to civil war
• Egypt is also working hard to prevent regional and international powers from interfering in Sudan’s internal affairs
• In addition, Egypt is keen to participate in rebuilding and economic development of all regions of Sudan

 
Source: Al Jazeera (Leading Arabic News Channel, headquartered in Qatar)
Headline: Returning Civilians Found Their Homes Burned Down

• Sirba civilians returned home after fleeing the fighting between rebel and government forces only to find most of their belongings burned down and their livestock dead
• Sirba is one of three villages that were the scene of tense fighting resulting in 12,000 civilians – mostly children, women and old men – fleeing into neighboring Chad
• AU – UN investigating team was in the area to assess and evaluate the damage
• Eyewitnesses indicated that Janjaweed militia gunmen attacked the villages and set many of the huts on fire. 
• Meanwhile, Sudanese army indicated that it chased JEM fighters and showed lots of weapons it said it found in some of the homes used by the rebels. Some civilians called for more government troops to provide protection from the rebels

Source: Al Hayat (Saudi-owned Pan-Arab daily with wide circulation)
Headline: Silva Kiir: Talks with Darfur Rebels Were Approved by Al Bashir

• Sudan’s First Vice President Silva Kiir expressed South Sudan’s desire to see Arab investors use their money to help South Sudan’s economic development like they do in north Sudan
• He added economic development is the best way to convince South Sudan citizens they are better served with a united Sudan
• Kiir also told journalists that South Sudan government’s talks with Darfur rebels were done with President Al Bashir’s consent and gave South Sudan government credit for uniting many of the splintered Darfur rebel groups

 
Source: Al Hayat (Saudi-owned Pan-Arab daily with wide circulation)
Headline: Ocampo Urges European Union’s Help in Arresting Sudanese Minister
By: Annour Ahmed Annour

• Sudan rejected proposal making a British officer joint chief of hybrid force because Britain has no forces in the hybrid force and for fear he would coordinate with EUFOR in neighboring Chad
• Sudan also reached an agreement with UN to replace US-led contracts after US Congress passed a bill making it illegal to do business in Sudan
• Meanwhile, Sudanese army harshly criticized the United Nations’ double standards in dealing with fighting West Darfur.  It accused it of turning a blind eye to JEM’s violence while criticizing Sudan when it chased the rebels and restored peace over its territory
• In a related development, Louis Moreno-Ocampo called on Germany and EU to help in putting pressure on Sudanese government to handover Minister Ahmed Harun who is accused of war crimes in Darfur