SPLA on high alert on Sudan's boarder

The Spokesman of Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) Colonel Philip Aqoir, denied that his country received leaders from Darfur Armed Justice and Equality Movement (JEM). In a telephone interview from Juba, Aqoir told Arabstoday that Khartoum accused South Sudan of receiving the Head of JEM Jibril Ibrahim. It was believed that this was an attempt for Sudan to find justifications to penetrate the atmosphere and the geographical boundaries of South Sudan. Aqoir declared that Meg Antonov aircrafts started on Wednesday to fly over his country, and attacked areas in al-Wahda and Northern Bahr el Ghazal. He said that the attacks did not cause any casualties and described the attacks as hostile and not justifiable. According to Aqoir, the attacks occurred while the SPLA was intending to sign an agreement, in order to cease hostilities during the current negotiations between the two countries in Addis Ababa. He added: "Whenever the negotiations are resumed between our two countries, incidents and violations such as those attacks occur by the South Sudanese government." He confirmed that Darfur’s Justice and Equality Movement does not exist in the south but only in Darfur. In the last few days, fighting operations took place between the movement and the Sudanese army in several areas in Darfur. Aqoir declared that after violations and reports of military build-up of the Sudanese army on the border, SPLA was put on high alert on the common border in northern Bahr el Ghazal and al-Wahda. He revealed that there were meetings on Thursday with SPLA leaders to discuss these developments. He said that the SPLA issued a statement calling on Khartoum to immediately put an end to such violations, assuring that it is entitled to defend southern Sudan and its sovereignty. The President of South Sudan General Salva Kiir spoke about the problems that face his country, and the possibility of resolving those problems through an agreement with Khartoum during the current negotiations in Addis Ababa. During a ceremony to celebrate the inauguration of a road that connects his country with neighbouring African countries, Kiir declared that his government is looking for opportunities in developing southern Sudan.