Sudan: Catholic centre bombed from the air

As the UN Secretary General, Koffi Annan concluded his two-day visit to Khartoum yesterday, a Sudanese government plane bombed a Catholic centre in Torit Diocese in Ikotos. The attack, at 11.20 am seriously injured a man and a woman who were weeding the community farm. Their colleagues ran for cover. The high attitude Antonov bomber dropped six bombs and a few minutes later dropped another six, Auxiliary Bishop Akio Johnson said. Since the capture of Kapoeta by the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) on 9 June the government has frequently bombed Eastern Equitoria and especially the Catholic premises in Ikotos. On 26 June it destroyed the priests' house and injured a woman in charge of community affairs. On 29 June bombs destroyed a building in the church compound. The frequent bomb attacks on innocent people by the National Islamic Front (NIF) have caused fear and insecurity in the area. The bishops, clergy and the laity have appealed the International Community for intervention in declaring a no fly zone for the protection of the Sudanese in the liberated areas. source: Catholic Information Service Africa