Africa

May 22, 2015 (JUBA) – Visiting diplomats to South Sudan's capital, Juba, have condemned the recent fighting in Unity and Upper Nile states and called on the warring parties to cease hostilities.

An aerial view of a UN camp for internally displaced people in South Sudan's capital, Juba (ST)

The delegation of European Union (EU), together with the heads of missions from Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom and the heads of mission of Canada, Japan, Norway, Switzerland and United States of America converged in Juba on Friday, condemning the spread of violence in South Sudan.

In a statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Friday the diplomats have called on the opposition faction of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO), led by former vice president Riek Machar and the South Sudan government headed by president Salva Kiir to end the 17-month long conflict.

"The heads of missions are deeply concerned about the spread of violence in Unity state and Upper Nile. The ongoing military offensives constitute blatant violations of the cessation of
hostilities agreement signed by the Government of South Sudan and the SPLM/A-in Opposition,” partly says the statement.

The diplomats urged the warring parties in the “strongest possible terms” to end the fighting and killing immediately, both to respect the ceasefire and stop the “terrible” humanitarian consequences.

South Sudan warring parties have been engaged in intensive military operations for the past three weeks in Upper Nile and Unity states.

It is reported the military activities during recent weeks in the two states have forced up to 100,000 people to flee from their homes. Humanitarian actors have also been forced to leave areas which already were extremely fragile and volatile.

The result is that an estimated 650,000 people are left without life-saving aid at the onset of the rainy season. The heads of missions are especially disturbed by reports coming from the conflict ravaged areas about gross human rights violations, often targeting children and women.

The statement says situation in Unity and Upper Nile states are volatile, adding that they are standing against destabilization of citizens and urging both parties to stop fighting.

“Those responsible for violations of human rights and other humanitarian crimes must be held to account. We urge all fighting parties to lay down arms, ensure the safety and security of civilians and humanitarian aid workers, and provide unhindered access for humanitarian aid,” the statement added.

The groups called on the South Sudan warring parties to continue with face to face dialogue to end the conflict and restore peace in the country.

“The only way forward is for all parties to immediately return to the negotiating table to resolve the crisis," they said.

Recently a regional Great Lake region that include Angola, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda have rejected direct involvement of troika countries and the United Nations in another expected round of talks in Ethiopia.

They also rejected the United Nations resolutions which calls for targeted sanctions and arms embargo on South Sudan.

Observers criticize the African leaders for failure to successfully mediate between the warring parties and at the same time refusing direct help from outside the continent.

The East African regional bloc (IGAD) said it was developing a new mechanism to expand membership of the mediation team that will include troika countries (US, UK and Norway) as well as African Union, European Union, China and the United Nations.

(ST)

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May 22, 2015 (KHARTOUM) - Two female diplomats at the United States embassy in Khartoum have posted a video message expressing sympathy with the Sudanese women who serve tea on the streets.

Two American diplomats from the US embassy to Sudan sipping tea on on the River Nile street, The video was released on 21 May 2015

A video recording which has been widely circulated on social media websites showed, Caroline Schneider and Jennie Munoz sitting on the River Nile street in Khartoum sipping tea while they are recording a video message of solidarity with the women.

“Carrie, Jennie, and everyone at U.S. Embassy Khartoum congratulate the entrepreneurial women who serve tea along the Nile and businesswomen throughout Sudan,” they said in a short written message released with the video.

“Research shows that societies are more prosperous, stable, and secure when women are safe and empowered, so we applaud efforts to increase women's access to education, technology, capital, justice, and leadership opportunities. Cheers and thank you for all the delicious tea,” the two diplomats added.

The message of the American diplomats coincides with a campaign carried out by the local authorities in Sudan's twin capital of Omdurman on Thursday against women serving tea on the streets under claims of “combating negative phenomenon”.

Women who sell tea on the streets were forced by the absence of the breadwinner due to civil war or domestic migration from the countryside to the cities which was caused by drought.

The profession became their only source of livelihood especially as the country faces increasing economic hardships.

ACTIVISTS CELBRATE TEA SELLERS

Activists and various sectors of the Sudanese society also express solidarity and sympathy women who sell tea on the streets.

Last week, in a big gathering of ordinary people, the “Emergency Clinic” Youth Initiative celebrated the opening of the new Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the children's hospital in Omdurman.

Um Gisma, a woman who serves tea on the street, cut the ribbon giving a start of the ICU to provide help for children who suffer from cancer and bedded in the hospital.

Members of the initiative explained that the costs of the ICU, amounting to 2.6 million (SDG) ($435,880) were raised by voluntary work and fundraising campaigns. The unit is equipped with the latest monitoring capabilities, to treat seven emergency cases a day.

Um Gisma then has been known as the Godmother of the Emergency Clinic Initiative. Thus, the initiative decided to award her the honour of opening the new ICU instead of the minister of health.

Although large segments of Sudanese applauded the move, the publisher of the Al-Meghar al-Siasi daily newspaper, al-Hindi Izz al-Din, attacked it saying the youth group should have invited the minister of health to inaugurate the ICU instead of Um Gisma.

His column drew a tidal wave of criticism on the social media prompting several activists to launch a boycott campaign against purchase of his newspaper.

However, a leading figure at the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) and former minister of social welfare, Amira al-Fadil, has expressed support to the tea sellers and the youth initiative.

“I am impressed with the initiative and with the youth who stood behind it. Tea sellers are women who seek to seek to gain Halal livelihood and each of them have a family to support,” she said in a statement on Friday.

“Tea sellers are victims of our political, economic and social problems and they are in need for our help and protection. We have to organize and develop their profession,” al-Fadil added.

The former minister said she drew this conclusion after conducting studies including 10.000 women tea server in Khartoum state.

(ST)

By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

May 22,2015 (ADDIS ABABA) - The Ethiopian government has continued to evacuate thousands of citizens who are stranded in Yemen's roiling violence.

Spokes person for the Ethiopian ministry of foreign affairs, Tewelde Mulgeta on Thursday said some 2,000 nationals have arrived home during the past week alone.

Up on arrival at Addis Ababa Bole international Airport, the repatriates are being welcomed on daily basis by government officials from the ministry of foreign affairs.

Approached by Sudan Tribune, arrivals, who most are women were overwhelmed with gratitude to the urgent response by the Ethiopian government and called for more coordinated effort to evacuate for those thousands who remained behind.

According to the government official, hundreds more will be repatriated via Saudi Arabia in the weeks to come.

The repatriation operation is underway in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM)

The horn of Africa's nation intends to evacuate at least 50,000 Ethiopians stranded following the fighting erupted in March between Houthi rebels and forces loyal to ousted president.

According to the UN refugee agency at least some 200,000 refugees from the east African region are trapped in Yemen left almost with no option for escape route.

Every month hundreds of Ethiopians and thousands of others from Eritrea and Somalia take dangerous sea journeys to Yemen, a country seen as a gate way to the wealthier Arab nation of Saudi Arabia where they hope to get a lucrative job.

However thousands of them every year drown and perish at the Arabian Sea off the coast of Yemen while travelling in a crowded and unsafe boats.

(ST)

May 22, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA) – The South Sudanese rebel faction led by former vice president, Riek Machar, claimed their forces have captured Mundri town in Western Equatoria state.

Western Equatoria's information minister Charles Kisanga (ST/File photo)

“The spokesperson in the office of the chairman and commander-in-chief,SPLM/SPLA, do hereby announce the capture today [Friday] of Mundri town in Western Equatoria state by our gallant forces under the overall command of Major General Elias Lako Jada,” Machar's spokesperson, James Gatdet Dak said in a statement issued on Friday evening.

He said Mundri town, about 200km west of the country's capital, was strategic since it links Juba to the state capital, Yambio.

“We congratulate our freedom fighters for the victory,” said Dak, adding that more details on the matter would follow later.

But Western Equatoria's information minister, Charles Kisanga dismissed the rebels' claims, saying the entire Mundri county remains under government control.

TOP GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL KILLED

Meanwhile, a top state official was Friday killed after unknown gunmen opened fire at his convey as he returned from the scene of an earlier attack in Mundri West county.

Kisanga said the executive director for Mundri West, John Keliopa met his fate after visiting the scene where government troops traveling to Lakes state were attacked.

“The council [of ministers] agreed unanimously that this was another assassination of a top Western Equatoria official, condemned it in the strongest term possible and ordered thorough investigation into the killing”, Kisanga told Sudan Tribune Friday.

He said the council of state ministers, during their emergency meeting, further discussed the deteriorating security situation in the state, especially around Mundri.

“Since yesterday the security situation around Mundri was very fluid, particularly in the evening after some SPLA soldiers arrived in the area using Maridi roads junction and set camp for night on their way to Lakes state,” Kisanga disclosed.

The minister said an attack on SPLA soldiers occurred Friday night at about 2:00 am [local time], resulting into two fatalities and some injuries.

“In the morning, the commissioner plus the executive director, John Keliopa rushed to the scene to investigate the shooting and deaths and see how to take the bodies of the dead soldiers to Mundri. While at the scene, unknown gunman opened fire on the officials and resulting in fatal shooting of the executive director”, he explained.

DECEASED HAILED

State officials described the late Keliopa as a hero who stood for justice among citizens, citing his stand on insecurity caused by cattle keepers in Mundri last year.

The former executive director acted as the Mundri West commissioner when the latter resigned earlier this year and served until the current commissioner was appointed.

He reportedly faced several threats from various communities, but maintained steadfast.

(ST)

May 22, 2015 (KHARTOUM) - The rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N) said it repulsed a government attack on Thursday in Kalgo area, 45 km west of the Blue Nile state capital, Ed Damazin.

SPLM-N leader and SRF chairman Malik Agar (photo SPLM-N)

Earlier this month, SPLM-N said it repulsed an attack carried out by the Sudanese army backed by 18 military vehicles against the town of Kalgo in Bau in county. They also claimed to have repulsed a third attack against the same area on 23 April.

The SPLM-N has been fighting the Sudanese army and their aligned militias in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states since June 2011.

The rebel group said in a statement extended to Sudan Tribune that its fighters in the fourth front of the Angasana Mountains sector had repulsed a government attack against Kolgo on Thursday, noting the attack started at 6:00 am (local time) and continued for six hours.

The statement further said the government army suffered heavy losses while the SPLM-N forces did not incur any losses.

It claimed that 11 government troops were killed in the battle including two officers besides destroying 4 military vehicles and seizing 10 Kalashnikov rifles and RBG ammunition.

The SPLM-N stressed the government troops were forced to withdraw to Damzain and Khor Manza.

A Sudanese army spokesperson was not available for comment.

Since last year, the Sudanese army and its aligned militia have launched the “Decisive Summer” military campaign in a bid to end rebellion in Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile.

(ST)

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has said he is deeply troubled by Boko Haram’s “continuing indiscriminate and horrific attacks” against the civilian populations of Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria, according to the United Nations.

The escalation of fighting in South Sudan has resulted in “alarming gross violations” of international human rights and humanitarian law as well as having exacted a terrible toll on the young nation’s civilian population, the United Nations human rights chief confirmed today.

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May 22, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA) – The Chinese government announced it has conducted mass evacuation of its oil workers from Paloch oilfields in South Sudan due to the ongoing fighting around the oilfields in the oil-rich Upper Nile state territory.

Oil workers at one of petrodar oil fields (photo petrodar)

Heavy fighting between troops loyal to president Salva Kiir and the armed opposition faction (SPLM-IO), led by former vice president, Riek Machar, has continued near the oilfields since Tuesday.

In a statement announced in Beijing on China's national television(CCTV) on Thursday, it said the decision came due to the insecurity around the oilfields resulting from the advance by the rebel forces towards the oilfields.

It said the Chinese embassies in both Khartoum and Juba with China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), a government owned major oil company operating in Paloch, have already evacuated over 400 Chinese oil workers from the conflict area.

“More than 400 Chinese oil workers have been evacuated from South Sudan due to growing violence,” said the statement published by the Chinese government.

Beijing said the evacuated workers will be flown to China in the next few days.

This latest development largely contradicts South Sudan government's claim on Thursday that oil workers were returning to Paloch allegedly after defeating the rebels.

REBELS BESIEGE PALOCH OILFIELDS

South Sudanese rebels, however, issued statements claiming their forces captured Tangrial Bil refinery site and besieged Paloch oilfields aiming to capture it.

They urged oil companies to close down and evacuate their workers for safety reasons.

The rebel leader's spokesman, James Dak said the country's main oilfields of Paloch, some 200kms north of Malakal, had been besieged and designated priority target.

“SPLM/SPLA forces have converged around Paloch oilfields - Adar (Upper Nile) state - from different directions to capture the oilfields from pro-Salva Kiir forces any time soon,” Dak said.

He said the leadership of the movement also renewed “strong advice” to any remaining oil worker in Paloch to evacuate for safety reasons.

He accused the government of allegedly using some oil workers as human shield and said Juba would be responsible for any harm on them.

“We have learnt with disbelief that the government, out of panic, has prevented some of international oil workers from leaving the area, using them as human shield,” he said.

“We call on oil companies operating in the area to ensure their workers are evacuated.”

The rebels said their counter-offensive aimed to temporarily close down oil production or to cut off Juba from the oil revenues which they said president Kiir's government had been using to “hire mercenaries and buy weaponry to perpetuate the war.”

This, Dak said, was in response to government's “full scale offense” which he described as a violation of the cessation of hostilities agreement between the two warring parties.

(ST)

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May 21, 2015 (WAU) – Authorities in Western Bahr el Ghazal state have arrested three suspected men allegedly responsible for the assassination of Wau county paramount chief, Angelo Bagari, who was gunned down on 10 May along with his wife.

According to Wau county commissioner, Elia Kamilo Dimo, the prime suspect, Peter Unango, was identified as the master planner who killed the couple.

“Unango was identified through a probe by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) personnel based on many evidences including the letter of his own hand writing that he dropped in the compound of the chief with threatening words on the chief before the chief was killed,” said Dimo.

Unango was a member of Wau county youth known as Wau Pimalu who were inciting the 2012 December's violence and was convicted to jail for five years. He later last week escaped from the prison and killed the chief.

“He was the one during the Wau violence who led an attack on the chief Angelo Bagari for his stance with the state government to relocate the county headquarters from Wau town to Bagari,” said the commissioner.

The suspect was also previously found guilty of being responsible for burning down commercial trucks in Wau town during the December crisis.

“We have information about the place that the murderer went and took shower because in our customs, when you kill someone they will take you to shower with tree called ‘jal',”Kamilio explained.

He further explained that the investigation committee was working with the police's CID to conclude the probe into the killing.

(ST)

May 21, 2015 (JUBA) – A South Sudanese freelance reporter has been killed in what relatives and local officials said was a targeted revenge attack.

Pow James Reath, who left Bor, the capital of Jonglei state at the onset of the conflict, was a freelance reporter with UN-run Radio Miraya FM and most recently worked for Radio Tamazuj and Gurtong website.

Reath, who held a diploma in journalism and mass communications in Uganda, was allegedly moving to a nearby non-governmental organization (NGO) base to get internet access when he and Yohannes Pal Kuek, a master's degree student who was on research mission, were killed.

“The killing of two young men in Akobo county on Wednesday has been strongly condemned,” said Gatwech Koak Nyuon, a peace activist in a statement extended to Sudan Tribune.

A displaced pro-government's Akobo county commissioner, Taban Juoch, who is based in Juba, confirmed the killing of the two young men. He said there were no details.

“We are told this was a revenge attack,” he said when contacted for comment on Thursday.

Unconfirmed reports suggested that the victims were killed on Wednesday in a revenge attack between the Chie-Tot and Chie-Majok of Akobo East county in Lou-Nuer territory which is all under the control of the rebel forces led by former vice president, Riek Machar.

Inter-clan revenge killings are common in South Sudan where justice is not often available for victims and civilians resort to taking the laws into their own hands.

Activist Nyuon called for justice for the victims who were well educated and died under unclear circumstances.

“I appeal to authority in Akobo to critically look into situation so that civilians are aware of the importance of an educated person,” he said.

(ST)

May 21, 2015 (BOR) – The caretaker governor of South Sudan's Jonglei state, John Kong Nyuon has sacked the Duk county commissioner, Akech Deng.

The former commissioner for Duk county, Akech Deng (ST/File)

Nyuon, in a decree announced Wednesday, did not explain why he sacked the ex-commissioner, barely a year since he was appointed.

In the past, however, Deng has been accused of allegedly threatening aid agencies operating in Duk, and taking sides on issues between the Dinka Hol and Nyarweng.

The Catholic Relief Service (CRS), in a 25 May letter, accused the ex-commissioner of allegedly interfering in their operations and demanded that immediate action be taken.

“The Duk commissioner leads an NGO [non-governmental organisation] called Wundeng Wings of Hope which he is promoting in the county and in Juba, using his position and powers as a Jonglei state government official; he tried to compel JFSP [Jonglei Food Security Programme] to hand over control of beneficiary registration and the distribution of food and NFIs [non-food items] to his NGO, although he has been told repeatedly that donor regulations on accountability forbid CRS complying with this instruction”, partly reads CRS's letter a source extended to Sudan Tribune.

The JFSP is currently implementing services in nine of Jonglei's 11 counties.

Duk county was, however, included in the extension programme last year.

Since the country's crisis, CRS has been the only organisation with staff on the ground, providing food and non-food support to the conflict populations from July 2014.

CRS, in the letter, claimed the former commissioner did not support their work, further alleging that the latter wanted JFSP resources diverted to the local NGO he founded.

In March this year, Deng terminated services of the Relief and Rehabilitation coordinator of the county on the grounds that he did not support in his push to acquire food and none-food items brought in to the county by CRS and World Food Program for his NGO.

Sudan Tribune could not independently verify claims against the former commissioner.

(ST)

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May 21, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The UN independent expert on the human rights situation in Sudan Aristide Nononsi expressed concern over the state of press and religious freedoms in the country and urged the government to lift immunity enjoyed by perpetrators of crimes.

UN independent expert on the human rights situation in Sudan Aristide Nononsi (UNAMID)

Nononsi also called for either releasing detainees or bringing them to trial and vowed to work with government and offer advice to improve the situation while acting in full transparency and independence.

On Thursday, the independent expert concluded his first official visit to Sudan since assuming the post in which he visited Darfur and met with officials from the government, national organizations, human rights groups and judicial bodies.

"In all my meetings with the government I received assurances of cooperation and goodwill to take steps towards the implementation of recommendations of former [UN] experts," he said.

Nononsi pointed out that domestic and external funding is needed to execute public awareness initiatives and the empowerment of human rights.

He said many of IDP's he met, in the states of North and South Darfur expressed concern about the security situation in their original areas that prevent them from returning.

The expert pointed out that the key to resolving ongoing disputes and improving the human rights situation is through providing a conducive environment through political interaction between all parties and putting an end to impunity for violators of international human rights and humanitarian law.

"In this regard, I urge parties concerned to put the interests of Sudanese people first and to return to the negotiating table to resolve outstanding differences in order to achieve regional peace and stability. I also encourage the government to continue its efforts to put an end to immunity for the perpetrators of violations of human rights and international humanitarian law," he said.

“In my discussions with the special prosecutor for Darfur crimes we agreed on a serious commitment to end impunity concerning crimes committed in the region and I promised to return for further discussions,” he added.

He also voiced concern on the security and humanitarian situation in IDP camps and said he plans to visit other regions to expand his knowledge of conditions there and to offer a more comprehensive evaluation.

Nononsi implored on UN peacekeepers and the government alike to provide a safe environment for the IDP camps and for all parties to guarantee flow of aid.

On freedoms, Nononsi said he received reports of restrictions on political rights including the rights of expression and assembly and formation of private organizations in the period before the general elections held last April.

"I still receive reports of prolonged detention of people without access to legal representation or their families," he said.

He said he was concerned about reports of the trial of Darfur students and their arrest along with the detention of two pastors from South Sudan accused of espionage.

The independent expert urged the government to respect political rights and freedoms as set out in the transitional constitution and to allow the Sudanese people to exercise their rights freely. He also called on the government to release all detainees or charge them with crimes and punishi them in accordance with law.

He said that he discussed with the government the need to ensure freedom of the press with particular reference to the use of the National Security Act and restrictions imposed on the press, including the closure of newspapers and the arrest of journalists and confiscation of newspapers.

"I raised this issue with government officials as a legitimate concern that the government needs to put into account given the importance of the freedom of expression and the press for the promotion and protection of human rights in a democratic society".

(ST)

May 21, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA/NYAL) – Opposition forces loyal to former vice-president, Riek Machar, said they have inflicted heavy losses on troops loyal to the country's president, Salva Kiir, in Unity state.

Rebel commander Brig General Joseph Gai Gatluak (left) pictured in front of his troops in Upper Nile state's Manyo county in March 2015 (ST)

Heavy fighting erupted on Wednesday and continued on Thursday in Nyal town, administrative headquarters of Panyijiar county in Unity state, near the border with Lakes state in Bahr el Ghazal region.

Rebel leader's spokesperson in a press statement to the media on Thursday said their forces came under attack but responded with full force and destroyed a battalion sent by the government.

“In southern part of Lich (Unity) state, on Thursday, our forces destroyed a full battalion of soldiers loyal to Salva Kiir when they attacked our positions on Wednesday in Nyal administrative headquarters of Panyijiar county,” Machar's spokesman, James Gatdet Dak, said in a press statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Thursday.

“Their remnants were repulsed and ran back in disarray,” he said.

In the heavy fighting in Nyal, according to him, rebel troops inflicted heavy losses on government's forces in terms of human casualties and materials.

The equipment captured or destroyed he said included 3 tanks (T-55) captured in good condition, 2 tanks (T-55) destroyed, 2 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) captured, 1 APC destroyed, 8 big trucks captured in good condition, 2 toyota pick-up mounted with heavy weapons captured and 2 fuel tankers captured.

He added that remnants from the government troops were spotted escaping with only 2 big trucks and 1 fuel tanker towards Lakes state.

MELUT NOT STRATEGIC

The opposition leader's spokesperson said their forces have withdrawn from Melut town in Upper Nile state since Wednesday because it was no longer strategic after taking all the arsenal from it.

He said they were not defeated in Melut town but decided to leave the town which they captured on Tuesday.

“As we stated on Wednesday, our forces have withdrawn from Melut town. This is because Melut town is no longer strategic to us after we captured it on Tuesday and took all the government's war arsenal in it,” Dak said.

The South Sudanese army spokesperson Philip Aguer announced in Juba Thursday they recaptured Melut and repulsed the assailant joint rebel force which involved militianment led by Maj Gan Johnson Olony. He further said oilfields were not affected by the fighting.

However, Dak said the opposition forces remained in full control of Tangrial Bil refinery site which they also captured on Monday night.

Also the rebel official added that their fighters on Thursday captured Mangok, another strategic town which is gateway to Adar oilfield.

The opposition forces, he added, have also remained in full control of the oil-rich Upper Nile state's capital, Malakal, which they captured since 16 May, subsequently together with other towns including Doleib hills, Akoka and Kaka.

The East African regional bloc (IGAD) is yet to announce a date for resumption of the peace talks to end the 17-month long civil war.

(ST)

May 21, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – A witness from the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) told the judge today that two contractors working for the Sudanese foreign ministry passed on “very serious” information including transcripts of presidential meetings.

Sudan's foreign ministry building in Khartoum (SUNA)

The defendants were charged earlier this year with criminal association and collaborating with the enemy and disclosing confidential information to a US agent in the United Arab Emirates.

In today's court hearing, NISS officer by the name of Mutawakil Youssef said that the first defendant handed over classified information to the US agent and was planning to deliver more data before he was caught.

Youssef disclosed that the leaked information included documents on the visit of the speaker of the Iraqi Council of Representatives and the minutes of the meetings held between president Omer Hassan al-Bashir with his Kenyan counterpart and another with Ethiopian Prime Minister.

Among the reports passed on to the US agent was one discussing Khartoum's position towards Kampala and another on diplomatic initiatives following South Sudan's referendum on self-determination which Youssef described as confidential and strategic.

The first defendant also handed over a list of all national organizations in Sudan and secret intelligence on Egyptian organizations supporting al-Qaeda terrorist network.

The NISS officer emphasized that all the leaked documents pose a major national security threat as it represents a clear breach affecting national sovereignty, and creates a rift in the relationship between Sudan and the outside world.

The defense lawyer asked for releasing the defendants on bail asserting that the crime is a political one that has nothing to do with espionage.

But the prosecution objected saying bail should not be granted in cases where the defendants face the death penalty.

(ST)