Mohammed Kamal, the hospital director, said that they had to take this step because the ministry of finance hadn’t honored their demands for over a year. He said in a statement, “The decision was made after the failure of attempts and frequent meetings with the authorities of the state to find solutions.”

He stressed that the minister of finance had refused to pay the doctors the specified amount.

Kamal acknowledged that operations in the department had stopped working for over six months leading to a decline in health standards, especially in the women’s and maternity ward. They had also been facing acute shortage of assistance in many other sections.

Doctors in Nyala resumed their strike last week after the government failed to keep up its promise of fulfilling their demands within a 30-day deadline provided by them.

Article source: http://www.radiodabanga.org/node/17730

Dahlman told Radio Dabanga, “Bashir made an announcement that there are no air strikes in South Kordofan since two weeks. That is a lie and is meant to mislead people. The government MiGs and Antonovs have been bombing civilians in the Nuba Mountains in South Kordofan.”

Bashir had made the announcement at the final conference of a civil administration’s meeting in Kakulai on Tuesday. Bashir’s ruling National Congress Party (NCP) has signed a framework agreement, initiated by the Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, with the SPLM (North) about peace in South Kordofan.

Dahlman added that Bashir wasn’t serious about the framework agreement. “The ceasefire should not only be on negotiation tables but should take some form on the ground. Bashir should make such statements only when he is seriously worried about peace in the region.”

Government airstrikes continue

On the other hand, a woman and a child were injured in an airstrike launched by a government aircraft on Monday and Tuesday in large areas of the Nuba Mountains.

Mubarak Abdul Rahman, chairperson of the Youth SPLM in South Kordofan told Radio Dabanga, “The bombing happened in the areas of Haban, Kauda, Buram. It killed an 11-year-old boy Kiriyunios Teya. It also caused the death of a number of cattle and damaged farms.”

Mubarak said that the bombing renewed on Monday morning and led to 85-year-old veteran Kochi Fadlallah being seriously injured in the leg and hand in Buram. The incident also led to the death of animals and damage to crops in the region, he added.

Government airstrikes targeting civilians in South Kordofan has been a routine occurrence in the past few months.

Article source: http://www.radiodabanga.org/node/17731

Gabriel Adam Bilal, spokesperson of the JEM, said in a statement, “We reiterate calling on the new Libyan leaders, the NATO, the UN and other international organizations to work for safe release of president of JEM who has been under involuntary presence in Tripoli since May 2010.”

Bilal attributed Dr Ibrahim’s detention in Libya to regional conspiracy aimed at isolating JEM leadership from its popular and military base. He added that Khartoum’s propaganda machine had been trying to portray JEM’s leaders in Libya as Gadaffi mercenaries.

Bilal told Radio Dabanga, “I would like to appeal to the new Libyan leaders not allow any treatment or procedure that is not recognized by international humanitarian law and UN charter of human rights.”

UNHCR appeals for safety of refugees

Antonio Guterres, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) appealed on Tuesday to all parties involved in the Libyan conflict to ensure safety of thousands of foreigners trapped in Tripoli and other areas in light of the continued fighting there.

Guterres pointed to the exposure of foreigners, especially Africans, to the risk of retaliation and hostility in the beginning of the crisis. In April 2011, a few months after the outbreak of the revolution in Libya, Sudanese refugees in the country had to be evacuated to Khartoum.

Guterres stressed the need to respect international humanitarian law despite the current events in Libya, and the need for protection of foreigners, including refugees and migrant workers.

Hundreds of thousands of migrant workers and those in need of international protection have fled Libya to neighboring countries in the past months. However, estimates still indicate the presence of tens of thousands of foreigners in Tripoli and other areas of Libya.

Article source: http://www.radiodabanga.org/node/17732