Cablegate: Sudanese Stage Protest in Support of Lebanon, Denounce

VZCZCXRO6334
RR RUEHMA RUEHROV
DE RUEHKH #1746 2011346
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 201346Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3812
INFO RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC 0110

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 001746

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV SOCI UN SU IS PA LE
SUBJECT: SUDANESE STAGE PROTEST IN SUPPORT OF LEBANON, DENOUNCE
ISRAEL, LINK TO UN FORCE FOR DARFUR

1. (U) Reuters has reported, and Embassy Pol/Econ FSNs have
confirmed, that approximately 400 Sudanese staged a protest outside
the Lebanese embassy on July 19, condemning the Israeli air strikes
and calling on Arabs to fight the Jewish state in solidarity. The
protesters, many carrying pictures of Hamas Prime Minister Ismail
Haniyeh and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, chanted slogans
including "Destroy Israel" and "We are with you, the Palestinian and
Lebanese people."

2. (U) In addition, both Reuters and the Sudanese News Agency
reported, again confirmed by Embassy FSNs, that approximately 350
people attended a rally held at the same time by the Sudanese
Workers Union at which speakers called for a pan-Arab jihad. People
packed stairwells and perched on window ledges for lack of space to
hear union chief Ahmed Ghandour contrast the West's insistence on
U.N. peacekeepers in Darfur with its reluctance to deploy a similar
force to protect Palestinians. "This is the international law we
are living with. Believe me, brothers and sisters, there is no
international law except the law of power," Ghandour said.

3. (SBU) Post will continue to monitor local news and places of
worship for information on potential unrest and/or planned
demonstrations.

STEINFELD

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