Arab media

March 5 , 2008

Source: Addustour (Government-friendly, Jordanian daily enjoys wide circulation)
Headline: Two Sudanese Killed and a EUFOR Soldier Missing

• A Sudanese soldier and a civilian were killed while a French soldier went missing and another was wounded during a bloody clash between Sudanese army and EUFOR troops
• Paris said EUFOR crossed into Sudan accidentally but Sudan countered the same mistake could not happen twice
• French minister of defense said a jeep accidentally crossed into Sudan’s territory and was immediately attacked by Sudanese soldiers despite the fact that they made their identity known and when another group of soldiers went to locate the missing jeep, they too came under fire and were forced to return fire in self-defense
• Sudanese army dismissed the claim that the incidents were accidental and added that it did not capture any foreign soldier

Source: Al Jazeera (Leading Arabic News Channel, headquartered in Qatar)
Headline: Chad Digs a Ditch around the Capital

• Chadian government started to dig a three-meter deep ditch around the capital N’Djamena to prevent a repeat of last month’s attack by Chadian rebels
• A government spokesperson said access to the capital will be through highly guarded doors and minister of the interior refused to give details saying the ditch was a military secret
• The ditch is believed to be a reaction to news that rebel groups were reorganizing

Source: Al Hayat (Saudi-owned Pan-Arab daily with wide circulation)
Headline: Sudan Accepts EU Apology and Promises to Search for Missing Soldier
By: Annour Ahmed Annour

• Sudanese government accepted EU and France’s apologies for EUFOR crossing into its territory
• The incident killed a Sudanese soldier and a civilian while a EUFOR soldier was still missing
• The incident confirms Sudan’s fears that EUFOR will cause constant political and military pressure on its western border
• The incident also reinforces Sudan’s belief that EUFOR was deployed to provide protection to Chadian President Idriss Deby against any attempt to topple him by his adversaries
• Experts believe Sudan’s quick acceptance of apologies by Javier Solana and Bernard Kushner and its willingness to search for missing EUFOR soldier underscore its eagerness to avoid a showdown with international community
• They argued Sudan was also eager to resolve Darfur crisis in order to normalize relations with the international community