SUDANESE STAGE PROTEST IN SUPPORT OF LEBANON, DENOUNCE

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 001746 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV SOCI UN SU IS PA LE SUBJECT: SUDANESE STAGE PROTEST IN SUPPORT OF LEBANON, DENOUNCE ISRAEL, LINK TO UN FORCE FOR DARFUR ¶1. (U) Reuters has reported, and Embassy Pol/Econ FSNs have confirmed, that approximately 400 Sudanese staged a protest outside the Lebanese embassy on July 19, condemning the Israeli air strikes and calling on Arabs to fight the Jewish state in solidarity. The protesters, many carrying pictures of Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, chanted slogans including "Destroy Israel" and "We are with you, the Palestinian and Lebanese people." ¶2. (U) In addition, both Reuters and the Sudanese News Agency reported, again confirmed by Embassy FSNs, that approximately 350 people attended a rally held at the same time by the Sudanese Workers Union at which speakers called for a pan-Arab jihad. People packed stairwells and perched on window ledges for lack of space to hear union chief Ahmed Ghandour contrast the West's insistence on U.N. peacekeepers in Darfur with its reluctance to deploy a similar force to protect Palestinians. "This is the international law we are living with. Believe me, brothers and sisters, there is no international law except the law of power," Ghandour said. ¶3. (SBU) Post will continue to monitor local news and places of worship for information on potential unrest and/or planned demonstrations. STEINFELD