The United States said on Tuesday that Sudan is on the right track to continue implementing comprehensive peace agreement after the death of the First Vice President John Garang in an air crash.

"What we are so far seeing is an orderly and peaceful succession process for the position of first vice president. And that is something that's very positive," acting spokesman Tom Casey of the State Department Tom Casey said.

Casey made the remarks after the leadership of the Sudan People 's Liberation Movement (SPLM) appointed on Monday deputy chairman of the SPLM Salva Kiir Miyardeit as successor to the late chairman John Garang,

"Certainly we think that it's a good thing that this process has moved forward," Casey said.

On clashes between supporters of the former southern rebels and the Sudanese government, the spokesman urged "all Sudanese people to refrain from violence and to maintain calm and continue on the path of nonviolence and reconciliation."

It was reported that riots broke out in the streets of Khartoum after Garang was confirmed dead in a helicopter crash on his way back from Uganda to southern Sudan Saturday night.

At least 24 people were reportedly killed in clash with police. However, the streets of the Sudanese capital Khartoum gradually returned to calm on Monday after the Sudanese government imposed curfew in the capital.

Source: Xinhua