vowed yesterday to carry on his peace legacy as he arrived in Khartoum ahead of being sworn in as the countryâs vice president. âIâm happy to be in Khartoum after 22 years (away),â Kiir told reporters after he flew in from southern Sudan with security tight in the capital. âDespite the fact that we have lost our hero, the man who brought peace, Dr. Garang, we will continue with the same vision, with the same objective and we will implement the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.â He was referring to the peace deal signed with the Khartoum government in January that ended 21 years of north-south war in Sudan, the longest running in Africa which cost two million lives.Kiir urged Sudanese people not to resort to violence after deadly rioting shook Khartoum and several towns in south Sudan following Garangâs death on July 30 in a helicopter crash. âIâm appealing to all the people of Sudan, the people from southern Sudan in particular to remain calm and not to repeat all what has happened a few days ago,â he said.
Kiir was greeted by Sudanâs Second Vice President Osman Ali Taha as he stepped out of the plane after flying in from Rumbek in south Sudan. Some 200 Sudanese dignitaries, including officials from Kiirâs Sudan Peopleâs Liberation Movement and the ruling National Congress Party later shook hands with him inside the airport.
| I'll bet that was one hell of a scary flight, though it would have probably too much to have it blow up so soon after Garang's "unfortunate accident." |