Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KHARTOUM2648
2006-11-09 14:48:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Khartoum
Cable title:
INTERIOR MINISTER IMPLIES U.S. LINK TO
how-toVZCZCXYZ0002 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHKH #2648 3131448 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 091448Z NOV 06 FM AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5178 INFO RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY 0074 RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY 0117 RHMFISS/CJTF HOA PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L KHARTOUM 002648
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/SPG, AF/SE AND AF/PD
NSC FOR PITTMAN AND SHORTLEY
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/08/2016
TAGS: PGOV PINR KPAO KCRM PTER SU US
SUBJECT: INTERIOR MINISTER IMPLIES U.S. LINK TO
JOURNALIST'S MURDER
REF: KHARTOUM 02157
Classified By: P/E Chief E. Whitaker, Reason: Sections 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L KHARTOUM 002648
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/SPG, AF/SE AND AF/PD
NSC FOR PITTMAN AND SHORTLEY
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/08/2016
TAGS: PGOV PINR KPAO KCRM PTER SU US
SUBJECT: INTERIOR MINISTER IMPLIES U.S. LINK TO
JOURNALIST'S MURDER
REF: KHARTOUM 02157
Classified By: P/E Chief E. Whitaker, Reason: Sections 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) In widely-reported remarks to the Arabic-language
press, Minister of the Interior Al Zubair Bashir Taha alleged
on November 8 that a Sudanese employee of a "Western Embassy"
was involved in the September beheading of "Al Wafaq"
Editor-in-Chief Mohammed Taha (reftel). Though Embassy
Senior Guard Adam Ibrahim Al Haj (strictly protect),a leader
of the Fur community in Khartoum, was arrested on October 19
by the Criminal Investigation Police in connection with the
assassination, the Embassy has no reason to believe that Al
Haj was involved in the murder.
2. (C) The "Al Wafaq" office had been attacked in January
2006 after one of Taha's articles was criticized as insulting
to Darfurian women. Shortly thereafter, a group of Fur
notables in Khartoum, including Al Haj, filed a libel suit
against Taha. All 50 litigants, including Al Haj's pregnant
wife and sister-in-law, were arrested following the murder.
Al Haj had worked for the Embassy for over four years as a
residential security guard.
3. (C) Taha was a controversial figure, with long-standing
links to the National Islamic Front (the precursor of the
ruling National Congress Party),Vice President Ali Osman
Taha, and the Iranian government. Since his murder, no
suspects have been definitively identified, though
wide-ranging speculation has included the National
Intelligence and Security Service, Islamists, returnees from
Iraq, Al Qaeda, Hassan Al Turabi's Popular Congress Party
(PCP),and Senior Assistant to the President Minni Minawi.
Minister Taha had suggested on September 6 that foreign
extremists were responsible for the murder.
POWERS
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR AF/SPG, AF/SE AND AF/PD
NSC FOR PITTMAN AND SHORTLEY
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/08/2016
TAGS: PGOV PINR KPAO KCRM PTER SU US
SUBJECT: INTERIOR MINISTER IMPLIES U.S. LINK TO
JOURNALIST'S MURDER
REF: KHARTOUM 02157
Classified By: P/E Chief E. Whitaker, Reason: Sections 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) In widely-reported remarks to the Arabic-language
press, Minister of the Interior Al Zubair Bashir Taha alleged
on November 8 that a Sudanese employee of a "Western Embassy"
was involved in the September beheading of "Al Wafaq"
Editor-in-Chief Mohammed Taha (reftel). Though Embassy
Senior Guard Adam Ibrahim Al Haj (strictly protect),a leader
of the Fur community in Khartoum, was arrested on October 19
by the Criminal Investigation Police in connection with the
assassination, the Embassy has no reason to believe that Al
Haj was involved in the murder.
2. (C) The "Al Wafaq" office had been attacked in January
2006 after one of Taha's articles was criticized as insulting
to Darfurian women. Shortly thereafter, a group of Fur
notables in Khartoum, including Al Haj, filed a libel suit
against Taha. All 50 litigants, including Al Haj's pregnant
wife and sister-in-law, were arrested following the murder.
Al Haj had worked for the Embassy for over four years as a
residential security guard.
3. (C) Taha was a controversial figure, with long-standing
links to the National Islamic Front (the precursor of the
ruling National Congress Party),Vice President Ali Osman
Taha, and the Iranian government. Since his murder, no
suspects have been definitively identified, though
wide-ranging speculation has included the National
Intelligence and Security Service, Islamists, returnees from
Iraq, Al Qaeda, Hassan Al Turabi's Popular Congress Party
(PCP),and Senior Assistant to the President Minni Minawi.
Minister Taha had suggested on September 6 that foreign
extremists were responsible for the murder.
POWERS