CHEERING CROWDS; ARMY VEHICLES IN STREETS; GENERAL NIMEIRY AND JUNTA; TROOPS ON PARADE; AWADALLAH; SWEARING-IN CEREMONY; REVOLUTIONARY COUNCIL AND CABINET AT TABLE; GENERAL SCENES.




Initials GS/VS/CT/MJB



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Background: A REVOLUTIONARY COUNCIL SEIZED POWER IN THE SUDAN LAST SUNDAY (MAY 25) AND OVERTHREW THE CIVILIAN GOVERNMENT OF MAHAMMED MAHGOUB, A STATEMENT FROM THE COUNCIL'S CHAIRMAN, MAJOR-GENERAL JAAFAR MOHAMMED EL-NIMEIRY, SAID THAT THE ARMY WAS THE MAIN FORCE BEHIND THE COUP.

A NEW GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN FORMED UNDER ABU BAKR AWADALLAH, WHO SAID LATER THAT THE PURPOSE OF THE REVOLUTION WAS TO "PLACE AUTHORITY IN THE HANDS OF THE PEOPLE". THE REVOLUTIONARY COUNCIL AND THE NEW CIVILIAN CABINET TOOK OATH OF OFFICE IN THE MAIN RECEPTION ROOM OF PRESIDENTIAL PALACE IN KHARTOUM.

IN THE STREETS, ARMY VEHICLES GUARDED KEY CITY INSTALLATIONS INCLUDING THE LOCAL TELEVISION STATION. REPORTS FROM KHARTOUM SAID THE CITY REMAINED CALM IN THE WAKE OF THE COUP. OTHER REPORTS SAID THE COUP WAS EFFECTED WITHOUT A SHOT BEING FIRED.

ALREADY PREMIER AWADALLAH HAS WARNED AGAINST FOREIGN INTERFERENCE AND ADDED THAT THE NEW GOVERNMENT WOULD CONTINUE TO SUPPORT PALESTINIANS AGAINST ISRAEL. NINE ARMY MAJORS AND COLONELS MAKE UP THE 10-STRONG REVOLUTIONARY COUNCIL. PREMIER AWADALLAH IS THE ONLY CIVILIAN. FORMER PREMIER MAHGOUB HAS BEEN PLACED UNDER GUARD AT HIS HOME. THE FORMER PRESIDENT, ISMAIL AZHARI, IS REPORTED TO BE IN "SAFE CUSTODY".

SUNDAY'S COUP SEEMED TO TAKE KHARTOUM BY SURPRISE. CHEERING CITIZENS GATHERED OUTSIDE THE PALACE WHILE THE NEW GOVERNMENT WAS UNDER FORMATION. THE PRE-DAWN TAKEOVER FOLLOWED WEEKS OF MANOEUVRING IN THE GOVERNMENT CAUSED BY DIFFERENCES AMONG MEMBERS OF THE COALITION MADE UP MAINLY OF THE UMMA PARTY AND THE DEMOCRATIC UNIONIST PARTY.