KHARTOUM, Sudan, Nov. 1 (UPI) -- An official committee investigating the death of Sudan's Deputy President John Garang in a Ugandan helicopter crash accused Kampala of poor cooperation.
The investigation committee's rapporteur, Sirageddine Hamed, declared Tuesday that Uganda procrastinated in meeting the inquiry's demands, including submission of special documents on the validity and maintenance of the presidential helicopter in which Garang was killed when it crashed in southern Sudan last July 30.
Hamed earlier charged that Uganda failed to offer necessary assistance to the Sudanese investigating team and said parts of the helicopter that were examined by investigators on their first visit of the crash site have disappeared.
He said the investigation team, which returned to Sudan Monday after spending 27 days in Uganda, plans to return there to interview some 35 witnesses, including Ugandan ministers.
"A timetable was approved for interviewing more than 35 witnesses in the middle of next month," Hamed said.
He said the witnesses include the ground crew responsible for the helicopter, officials at the presidential palace and army officers in charge of the plane's security at Entebbe airport in addition to a number of ministers.
Garang, who led the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement for 20 years, was killed three weeks after being appointed deputy president in line with a peace agreement signed with the Khartoum government.
