| Thousands of southern Sudanese wielding knives and bars have looted shops and clashed with police in the streets of Khartoum after learning of the death of ex-rebel leader John Garang. "People have been running all over the streets. The policemen are taking people from the streets. There is fire and smoke," a Reuters TV witness said on Monday. "They are beating anybody they see who looks like they are Arab," said Swayd Abdullah, a student. Shops closed and there was a heightened security presence in the streets, witnesses said. The southern Sudanese, who recently gave Garang a tumultuous welcome when he travelled north to take up his post as vice-president in the new power-sharing government, smashed cars and shops in several hours of rioting, the witnesses said. Some gunfire could be heard, although it was not clear whether that was in mourning for Garang or from fighting. |
