Arabic Media

January 3 , 2008

Source: Al Khaleej (UAE daily, with over 80,000 in circulation)
Headline: Sudanese Army Reports 8 Soldiers Killed in Darfur Clashes

• Sudanese army announced 8 soldiers killed and 19 wounded in clashes with Justice and Equality Movement
• Sudanese army insisted the rebels were assisted by Chadian forces and used 65 vehicles in the attack
• Meanwhile, AU announced that Egypt and Ethiopia pledged to send troops to participate in Darfur hybrid force in the coming days

Source: Asharq Al Awsat (Saudi-owned Pan-Arab daily with wide circulation)
Headline: UN Accuses Sudan of Hindering Hybrid Force Deployment
By: Mustapha Sirri

• UN announced that Sudan’s opposition to certain countries’ participation and its insistence on which country could provide logistical assistance is hampering hybrid force deployment
• The UN is not the only party unhappy with Sudan, a group of 35 non-profit organizations indicated that Sudan is exercising immense pressure to prevent the hybrid force’s deployment
• Meanwhile Justice and Equality and Sudan Liberation movements welcomed transfer of peacekeeping mission to the United Nations

Source: Al Ahram (government-friendly, Egyptian daily with over 1 million in circulation)
Headline: Op/Ed: Egyptian Responsibility in Sudan’s Stability and Security

• It is not an exaggeration to say that Egypt’s security and stability to be tightly connected to that of its southern neighbor
• And regardless of the ongoing disagreement between Sudan and the United Nations about the nationalities of participating countries, Egypt’s participation is reflection of its commitment to peace and stability in Darfur
• It is this principle that President Mubarak emphasized as he met Egyptian troops leaving for Darfur

Source: Al Khaleej (UAE daily, with over 80,000 in circulation)
Headline: Sudanese Political Parties Call for a Thorough Investigation of US Diplomat’s Assassination
By: Al Haj Mooz

• While some government sources characterized US diplomat’s assassination as “ a criminal act”; some opposition parties described it as a terrorist act and linked it to hybrid force deployment
• Communist Party said it was a terrorist act tied to the hybrid force’s deployment and warned of more such acts
• Democratic Union Party discounted the “criminal” explanation in favor of “opposition to hybrid force deployment”
• Umma Party blamed the assassination on lack of security and presence of armed extremist groups both on the right and the left
• Popular Congress Party strongly condemned the assassination and urged the government to conduct a thorough investigation.  It also alluded to possibility of foreign involvement

Source: Al Khaleej (UAE daily, with over 80,000 in circulation)
Headline: Gulf Cooperation Council Warns against Continued Tensions between Chad and Sudan

• GCC leader Al Attiya warned that continued tensions between Chad and Sudan was undermining stability in the region and urged the two countries to find a political solution to their differences

Source: Al Hayat (Saudi-owned Pan-Arab daily with wide circulation)
Headline: Girls Present with Granfield the Night He Was Killed Said He Had an Argument with Friends over Gambling
By: Annour Ahmed Annour

• Sudanese investigators discounted any “terrorist” link and indicated they obtained preliminary information that would “expose” the assassination’s mystery
• Informed sources reported that the investigators interrogated girls present at a party attended by Grandfield the night he was killed, who indicated Granfield had an argument with his friends while gambling
• Diplomatic sources reported that American investigating teams were taking part in the investigation