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August 27, 2009 (KHARTOUM) — The Sudanese government today expressed outrage over statements by Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi in which he reiterated his support to an independent South Sudan.

Gaddafi in a meeting with leader of the Darfur Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) Khalil Ibrahim this week said that Southerners culture and language are different from the rest of Sudan and therefore it is logical that they vote for independence in the 2011 referendum.

The Sudanese presidential adviser Mustafa Ismail said that the Libyan leader’s statements “if true would represent a dangerous shift and big change to the convictions of Gaddafi on African unity and the unity of Sudan”.

The ruling National Congress Party (NCP) in Sudan have said that the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) mandates that both sides would work “to make unity attractive”. Read more »

August 27, 2009 (WASHINGTON) — The US Department of Defense (DOD) is considering sending advisers to assist the African Union – United Nations mission on Darfur (UNAMID), according to a news report.

The US based Inside the Pentagon (ITP) newsletter quoted Vicki Huddleston, the new deputy assistant secretary of defense for Africa as saying that the Pentagon hopes to offer advisers mainly on logistical issues.

This would be similar to a decision by DOD taken to provide advisers to the U.N. mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT), Huddleston said.

In late July, president Obama special envoy to Sudan Scott Gration told US lawmakers specialized intelligence and reconnaissance capabilities will be needed as peace process in Darfur progresses that could be coordinated with United States African Command (AFRICOM).

However, such a step would likely face stiff resistance from Khartoum which had vehemently opposed any non-African units as part of UNAMID. Read more »

(CNN) — When cancer invades the brain, the prognosis is usually grim. Despite his treatment at highly regarded medical centers, Edward “Ted” Kennedy, who served as a Democratic senator from Massachusetts for nearly 47 years, died just over a year after his surgery.

Kennedy suffered a seizure May 17, 2008, while walking his dogs at his home in Hyannis Port. Three days later, doctors at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston said a brain biopsy revealed a tumor, known as a malignant glioma, in the left parietal lobe.

Malignant gliomas are the second-most common cause of death from cancer for people 15 to 44 years old, according to a 2005 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

August 24, 2009 (JUBA) – An overwhelming majority of the people of Southern Sudan are expected to vote for separation to form their own independent country in the 2011 referendum, according to a survey report.

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(The survey recently conducted by the US-based National Democratic Institute NDI), and presented to the Governors Forum in the Southern Sudan parliament, has indicated that the region is moving towards becoming an independent country. Read more »