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| Sudan arrests spark south unrest | Sudan arrests spark south unrest |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Several senior southern Sudanese politicians have been arrested during a rally, sparking widespread anger. | Several senior southern Sudanese politicians have been arrested during a rally, sparking widespread anger. |
| Among those held in Khartoum was the secretary general of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), Pagan Amum. | Among those held in Khartoum was the secretary general of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), Pagan Amum. |
| Within hours protesters in two towns in the south had set alight offices of President Omar al-Bashir's National Congress Party (NCP). | Within hours protesters in two towns in the south had set alight offices of President Omar al-Bashir's National Congress Party (NCP). |
| The SPLM joined a power-sharing government in 2005 to end 22 years of conflict between north and south Sudan. | The SPLM joined a power-sharing government in 2005 to end 22 years of conflict between north and south Sudan. |
| But tensions have been rising between the SPLM and the NCP in recent months | But tensions have been rising between the SPLM and the NCP in recent months |
| 'We want freedom' | 'We want freedom' |
| Next year's vote will be the first presidential, parliamentary and local elections in 24 years. | Next year's vote will be the first presidential, parliamentary and local elections in 24 years. |
| ANALYSIS James Copnall, BBC News, Khartoum Senior SPLM politicians hauled off to the police station. Protestors chased away with tear gas. Reprisal attacks on the National Congress Party offices by angry southerners. The latest demonstration of the mistrust between the SPLM and the NCP was certainly vivid, even if the SPLM leaders were released within hours. | |
| What it illustrates clearly is the widening gulf between the sides. The NCP seem unwilling to allow its opponents to take to the streets. The SPLM and its northern allies knew the probable consequences of their actions once the police had declared the rally illegal. | |
| But with time running out before next April's elections, both sides seem less and less willing to compromise. The clampdown on the protesters may also cement a loose alliance between the SPLM and various northern opposition parties into something more concrete. | |
| South Sudan awaits oil bonanza | |
| Monday is the final day for voters to register for the election, and the government declared it a public holiday in an effort to encourage a good turnout. | Monday is the final day for voters to register for the election, and the government declared it a public holiday in an effort to encourage a good turnout. |
| But the SPLM and the NCP have failed to agree on changes to the election laws. | But the SPLM and the NCP have failed to agree on changes to the election laws. |
| And about 20 opposition parties called for a gathering in front of the parliament building in the capital to demand electoral reform. | And about 20 opposition parties called for a gathering in front of the parliament building in the capital to demand electoral reform. |
| Hundreds of demonstrators turned out, watched by lines of armed police. | Hundreds of demonstrators turned out, watched by lines of armed police. |
| The AFP news agency reported that demonstrators marched through Khartoum and its neighbouring city Omdurman waving placards and chanting: "We want our freedom." | The AFP news agency reported that demonstrators marched through Khartoum and its neighbouring city Omdurman waving placards and chanting: "We want our freedom." |
| As the protest grew - with some reports estimating thousands of people had joined the rally - police fired tear gas and beat the protesters with batons. | As the protest grew - with some reports estimating thousands of people had joined the rally - police fired tear gas and beat the protesters with batons. |
| Mr Amum was arrested along with his deputy Yasir Arman and other SPLM figures - with unconfirmed reports claiming dozens of protesters were also detained. | Mr Amum was arrested along with his deputy Yasir Arman and other SPLM figures - with unconfirmed reports claiming dozens of protesters were also detained. |
| Following the arrests, protesters in the southern towns of Rumbek and Wau set fire to NPC offices. | Following the arrests, protesters in the southern towns of Rumbek and Wau set fire to NPC offices. |
| Deteriorating relations | Deteriorating relations |
| After the crackdown SPLM members accused the NCP of suppressing free speech. | After the crackdown SPLM members accused the NCP of suppressing free speech. |
| Pagan Amum and his deputy were among those arrested by police | Pagan Amum and his deputy were among those arrested by police |
| But interior ministry officials said the protest was outlawed because the organisers had failed to apply for permission to hold the event. | But interior ministry officials said the protest was outlawed because the organisers had failed to apply for permission to hold the event. |
| The BBC's James Copnall, in Omdurman, says the argument over electoral laws and the crackdown on protesters show a deteriorating relationship between the NCP and its detractors. | The BBC's James Copnall, in Omdurman, says the argument over electoral laws and the crackdown on protesters show a deteriorating relationship between the NCP and its detractors. |
| A 22-year war between the mainly Muslim north and the Christian and animist south claimed the lives of 1.5 million people. | A 22-year war between the mainly Muslim north and the Christian and animist south claimed the lives of 1.5 million people. |
| Semi-autonomous southern Sudan has been controlled by the SPLM since a peace deal in 2005 ended the civil war. | Semi-autonomous southern Sudan has been controlled by the SPLM since a peace deal in 2005 ended the civil war. |
| A referendum on whether the south should secede in due in 2011. | A referendum on whether the south should secede in due in 2011. |