Cablegate: Khartoum - Eac Meeting: Damascus and Demonstrations

VZCZCXRO2839
RR RUEHMA RUEHROV
DE RUEHKH #2219 2570916
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 140916Z SEP 06 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4530
INFO RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 002219

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC CASC SOCI SU PGOV
SUBJECT: KHARTOUM - EAC MEETING: DAMASCUS AND DEMONSTRATIONS

1. Summary: On September 13, 2006, the Embassy Khartoum
Emergency Action Committee met to discuss recent and expected
demonstrations within metropolitan Khartoum and the attack on
AmEmbassy Damascus and its ramifications for Embassy
Khartoum. End Summary.

2. On September 12 a small demonstration was held to
object to UNSC Resolution 1706 and to protest the proposal to
place UN Peacekeepers in Darfur. It was a small
demonstration, organized by the GNU and it marched from city
center to the UN Headquarters building, and then shortly
dispersed. There was no significant impact on the Embassy or
its personnel.
3. Information received by the RSO stated that another
demonstration against GNU economic policies and the rise in
prices of basic commodities would occur on September 13. RSO
advised the EAC that as information about this possible
demonstration developed, it would be made available to the
Embassy community. As it turned out, there was no
demonstration.

4. EAC discussed the attack on Embassy Damascus. RSO
deployed Charge,/DCM bodyguards to the CACs and PACs to
increase the number of armed security personnel at these
vulnerable locations. Agencies/Sections with contacts in the
GNU and the local community will ask about, but pending
additional information that is Khartoum specific, the EAC
agreed with the RSO,s assessment that we hold for the time
being on any significant changes in security
posture/procedures.
POWERS

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