INDEPENDENT NEWS

Cablegate: Khartoum Eac Convened to Discuss Embassy Sana'a Attack And

Published: Fri 19 Sep 2008 01:57 PM
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UNCLAS KHARTOUM 001420
BT
SENSITIVE
DEPT FOR M, DS, SPG, AF, AND S/ES-S/O
USAID FOR AA/AF
CAIRO FOR LEGAT
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC AEMR PTER AMGT PGOV SU
SUBJECT: KHARTOUM EAC CONVENED TO DISCUSS EMBASSY SANA'A ATTACK AND
ATTENDANCE AT GRANVILLE/ABBAS TRIAL
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Embassy Khartoum's Emergency Action Committee
(EAC) convened on September 18 to review the details of the
September 17 terrorist attack on Embassy Sana'a, to evaluate any
possible connections to Sudan, and to determine if our security
posture can be increased to better defend against this type of an
attack. The EAC also discussed the scheduled murder trial sessions
on 9/21 and 9/22 for the five Sudanese men charged in the January 1
assassination of John Granville and Abdelrahman Abbas. The EAC
recommended to the Charge' d'Affaires (CDA) that American employees
not attend, and that the Embassy be represented by Foreign Service
National (FSN) employee observers. END SUMMARY.
2. (SBU) Embassy Khartoum's EAC convened on September 18, 2008 to
discuss the September 17 terrorist attack on Embassy Sana'a and the
Granville/Abbas murder trial sessions scheduled for September 21 and
22. The EAC was chaired by the DCM and included representatives
from CONS, POEC, DLO, PAO, RAO, RSO, and USAID. The RSO presented
information about the terrorist attack on Embassy Sana'a from DS
reports and analysis. With the exception of one investigative lead
passed to the RSO from Legat Cairo, there does not appear to be any
connection between the attack and either Sudan or Sudanese
nationals. Embassy name checks conducted for Legat Cairo were
negative.
3. (SBU) The EAC discussed the Embassy's current security posture,
recognized the inadequate and unsafe Chancery, explored ways to
harden this facility, other embassy buildings and residences, and
recommended improving the randomization of employee travel. The
RSO briefed the EAC on the upcoming Integrated Mobile Training Team
(I/MTT) visit tentatively scheduled for 0ctober 13 through November
26, and stressed the importance of mandatory participation by all
Mission employees. The EAC discussed ways to improve procedural
security to mitigate the risks of inadequate physical security and
setback, and how motorpool operations can be improved to provide
better randomization and unpredictability of employee commutes.
4. (SBU) The EAC meeting concluded with a discussion of the murder
trial of the five Sudanese nationals charged with the January 1
killing of USAID officer John Granville and his driver, Abdelrahman
Abbas. Given the high public profile and time/place predictability
of the trial, the continued terrorist threat, and the absence of
pedestrian identification and security screening at the courthouse,
the EAC unanimously agreed to recommend to the CDA that Americans
not attend. The CDA concurred with the EAC's recommendation and
agreed that the Embassy should be represented by FSNs observers.
The EAC will reconvene near the conclusion of the trial to determine
the appropriate level of representation when the verdict is
announced.
FERNANDEZ
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