May 10, 2013 (KHARTOUM) - Sudan's High Committee for Mobilization and Alert has held a meeting with mosque's Imams to discuss the implications of the rebel Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF) recent attacks in South and North Kordofan states and to call for Jihad (holy war).
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- An unidentified Islamic group leader speaks after a mass “standing prayer” in Khartoum on 3 May 2011 in honour al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, who was shot dead in Pakistan (Reuters)
The meeting discussed the need to reinforce the message of the mosque in the society and to urge worshipers to fulfil the virtue of Jihad and martyrdom as well as fighting the enemies who, according to them, terrorized the peaceful residents at Um Rawaba, Abu Kershola, and Um Brimbita.
The spokesperson for the Popular Defense Forces (PDF) Mohamed Ahmed Haj Majid, warned against the project sponsored by the SRF which he said aims to disrupt the national unity and break up the country, calling on Imams to spur people for Jihad and fight in the path of Allah.
The mayor of Khartoum locality, Omer Nimir, for his part, stressed the importance of mosques and Imams in shaping public opinion, urging Imams to appeal to people donate money, food, and clothing for the victims of what he called "insidious" attack on North and South Kordofan.
On Wednesday, Sudan's National Assembly decided to suspend its sessions for a week in order to enable MPs to head to their constituencies and lead a mobilization campaign in support of the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) in its ongoing battle with rebel groups which have stepped up their military activities recently.
In a rare attack last month, SRF rebels swept through the city of Um Rawaba in North Kordofan, before withdrawing later in the day.
Fighting between the rebels and SAF has previously been mainly limited to Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile states bordering South Sudan, which seceded from Sudan in 2011.
North Kordofan, which includes Um Rawaba and forms part of Sudan's commercial heartland, is a hub for the country's agriculture, livestock and gum Arabic industries.
SAF now has it eyes on reclaiming Abu-Kershola district in South Kordofan which was overran by rebels during last month's assault.
Officials in Khartoum say that they have completely surrounded the area and pledged not to stop until they recapture Kauda which is the stronghold of the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) in South Kordofan.
(ST)