Explosion hits Sudanese arms factory, causes fireOctober 24, 2012 - 17:10 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Fire has engulfed an arms factory in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, following an explosion, BBC News reported. Khartoum governor Abdul Rahman al-Khidir told state media that no-one had died but that some people had suffered smoke inhalation. The reason for the blast at the Yarmouk industrial complex in the south of the city is not yet clear. Flames also spread to nearby buildings causing panic among local residents, local media said. Armed forces spokesman Col Al-Sawarmi Khalid said the explosion set light to surrounding grass and trees sending flames over a wide area, state news agency Suna reported. He said civil defense forces had contained the fire. "Investigations are under way to determine the causes of the explosion as well as assessing human and material loss," he said. Witnesses reported seeing two or three fires with dense smoke and intermittent flashes of white light. Khidir, governor of Khartoum state, told local TV that the explosion had occurred at midnight. "There are losses in the building and the authorities are investigating the cause. A preliminary investigation says the explosion happened in a store room," he said. Khidir said some people had been taken to hospitals suffering smoke inhalation but otherwise there were no casualties. In 1998, the U.S. launched a missile attack on a pharmaceutical plant in Khartoum, alleging that it was making materials for chemical weapons. Sudan denied the allegation, insisting that the U.S. had attacked a factory that manufactured anti-malaria medicines and veterinary products in defiance of international laws. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Russia provides info about arrested Armenian ex-MP Russian law enforcement agencies have provided information about the arrest of Tigran Urikhanyan. Lemkin Institue slams Pashinyan's “cryptic engagement with Genocide denial” The Lemkin Institute is alarmed over Pashinyan’s statements “questioning Armenia's legal basis to pursue justice against Turkey”. 41 detained as antigovernment protests continue in Yerevan 41 people were detained in Yerevan as people demanding Pashinian’s resignation stage campaigns of civil disobedience. Armenia votes for UN resolution granting Palestine new rights The U.N. General Assembly voted by a wide margin on May 10 to grant new “rights and privileges” to Palestine. |