KHARTOUM - DEMONSTRATIONS AT CHANCERY

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 002324

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR DS/IP/AF, DSS/ITA, AF/EX, CA/OCS, AF/SPG, AF/RSA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC CASC PREL PGOV SOCI SU
SUBJECT: KHARTOUM - DEMONSTRATIONS AT CHANCERY



1. On 20 September, 2006, Embassy Khartoum faced 3 brief,
interconnected, demonstrations directed against UNSCR 1706
and the recent statements attributed to the Pope.


2. A widely advertised and GNU sponsored, demonstration
was planned for 1000 hours on 20 September, 2006. However,
due to unusually heavy rains the night before, the gathering
area for the demonstration was under water at the scheduled
gathering time, and the demonstration did not take place.


3. Approximately 0930 a group of demonstrators, numbering
about 100 to 150 persons, en route to the demonstration
gathering point, (8 blocks east of the Chancery),from the
University of Khartoum, (4 blocks west of the Chancery),
stopped in front of the Chancery,s north Compound Access
Control (CAC),to vocalize their objection to UNSCR 1706 and
the comments recently attributed to the Pope. The stop-by
demonstration lasted about 10 minutes, then the group
proceeded east toward the planned demonstration gathering
point.


4. Approximately 1030 hours the same group, headed back
west towards their university campus, again stopped in front
of the north CAC for about another 10 minutes to renew their
protests about UNSCR 1706 and the Pope. About 15 or 20
minutes later, the same group came past again, protested for
about another 10 minutes, and then returned to their campus.


5. Sudanese riot police presence, both on site at the
Chancery, and moving along with the demonstrators, was
substantial and effective. There were no security incidents
during these three short demonstrations.
HUME