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U.N. will assist Sudan crash inquiry

UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 3 (UPI) -- U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan says the world organization will help Sudan investigate the helicopter crash that killed Vice President John Garang.

The death of the former rebel leader, sworn in less than one month ago as first vice president in Khartoum, touched off violence in the east-central Africa nation that has persisted for at least three days.

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"The secretary-general is concerned about the reports of continuing violence in Khartoum and elsewhere in Sudan following the recent tragic death" of Garang," Annan's spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, said Wednesday.

Annan appealed for calm in Sudan.

"While all available information suggests that the helicopter crash was a tragic accident," Dujarric said, "the U.N. system stands ready to assist the authorities concerned in an investigation conducted in accordance with internationally established standards and practices."

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