A senior official of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) said on Monday that a helicopter crash of the movement's leader, John Garang, was " undoubtedly natural."

Nhial Deing Nhial told an emergency meeting of the Sudanese Council of Ministers that the movement was committed to implementing a peace agreement.

He said SPLM will remain a serious partner of the ruling National Congress Party in cooperation with other Sudanese political parties, calling on all Sudanese people, especially SPLM members, to keep patience and self-restraint.

Garang, leader of SPLM, died Sunday evening along with six others in a helicopter crash on his way back to Sudan after talks with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni.

Earlier, a statement from the Sudanese government confirmed Garang's death.

It also said the chopper crashed after it hit the Amatong Mountain in southern Sudan due to bad weather condition.

SPLM had fought a 21-year-long war against the Sudanese government.

After signing a landmark comprehensive peace deal with Khartoum ending the longest civil war in Africa, Garang was sworn in as first vice president on July 9.

Source: Xinhua