Government vows stern action against pipeline bombers

The Sudanese government on Sunday vowed to deal severely with those responsible for blowing up an oil pipeline in Haiya, some 170 km south of Port of Sudan, Sudanese television reported. “While successive steps are being taken by the government to realise the national consensus, some quarters which felt uneasy decided to practise violence and destruction against the gains of the nation and citizens,” it said. “The government affirms that those who are causing destruction will be dealt with severely wherever they are.” Sunday’s blast destroyed some three metres of the pipeline but the authorities concerned reportedly managed to control the oil spillage and extinguished the fire. Energy and Mining Minister Dr Awad Ahmad al-Jaz went to the area to supervise the maintenance. Documents found at the site attributed the incident to the opposition Beja Congress, the television report added. It said the incident would not affect oil exports but that security authorities were pursuing the criminals.