Cablegate: Khartoum - Demonstrations in City/Eac Meeting

VZCZCXRO6113
PP RUEHMA RUEHROV
DE RUEHKH #2176 2531357
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 101357Z SEP 06
FM AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4469
INFO RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/CJTF HOA

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 002176

SIPDIS

DS/IP/AF
DSS/ITA
AF/EX
CA/OCS
AF/SPG
AF/RSA

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC CASC SOCI SU PGOV
SUBJECT: KHARTOUM - DEMONSTRATIONS IN CITY/EAC MEETING

REF: KHARTOUM 02156

1. Summary: On September 6, a series of demonstrations was
held in the adjoining cities of Omdurman and Khartoum. The
Embassy and its community were not significantly impacted.
End summary.

2. Prior to September 6, there had been local media
reporting as well as reporting from Embassy contacts that
oppositions parties planned to stage demonstrations
protesting a rise in prices of petroleum products and sugar.
The Government of Sudan did not/not issue a permit for this
demonstration.

3. Beginning around 1000 (local time) hours the RSO began to
receive reports of marches and demonstrations in the city of
Omdurman, across the White Nile River from Khartoum. After
sorting through multiple sources of sometimes conflicting
information, it seems fairly certain that there was a large
rally or demonstration about the price rises in Omdurman,
which was broken up by GoS forces using tear gas.

4. About 1400, new, but similar reports of demonstrations in
the center of the city of Khartoum, near the University and
about 7 to 10 blocks from the Chancery, began to be received
by Embassy sources. Due to a scheduled meeting of senior
Western diplomats scheduled to take place in the Chancery,
the Charge' convened a core EAC group meeting to discuss
options.
Once again, after sorting through the various reports
received Post believes that a second anti-price rise
demonstration or rally was again broken up by the use of tear
gas. Due to traffic conditions created by these events, the
consensus of the core EAC was to recommend to the Charge that
he postpone his meeting, which was done.

5. Post received one late report of limited burning of cars
and stores, and some looting, but at this time that
information remains a single source report and as such Post
will not commit to its reporting as definite.
POWERS

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