Sudanese President Omar el-Bashir on Monday announced the death of John Garang, first vice president and former south rebel leader, in a helicopter crash Saturday evening.

Bashir made the announcement following an emergency meeting of the Sudanese Council of Ministers attended by some officials of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), led by Garang.

Bashir said that the helicopter carrying Garang from Uganda to southern Sudan crashed, leading to the death of the first vice president and six others accompanying him as well as seven crewmen.

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

The death of Garang was a great loss to the Sudanese people, he said, adding the peace process in Sudan will continue.

The president urged all Sudanese people to keep patience and and calm to overcome "this hard test" and stick to unity and stability.

An eyewitness said some southerners took to the street on Monday to express their shocked feeling.

Garang signed with Bashir a peace deal on Jan. 9 to end a two- decade-old civil war in the south, and he was sworn in as first vice president on July 9.

His sudden death cast doubt on the strategy of the movement's new leadership, which might differ from Garang's peaceful approach that brought together opposition parties.

Therefore, any fallback from the peace process may threaten efforts exerted by the African Union to seek a peaceful solution to the conflict.

A senior SPLM official stressed here on Monday that the helicopter crash was "undoubtedly natural," adding the group is committed to implementing the peace agreement.

Nhial Deing Nhial said the movement will remain a serious partner of the ruling National Congress Party, calling on all Sudanese people, especially SPLM members, to keep patience and self-restraint.

Source: Xinhua