Civilians Topple A Military Government; Civil War Ebbs
The
restrictions imposed by Abboud, compounded by his inhuman treatment of
southerners, disillusioned the people against the military government.
In October 1964, university students-supported by lawyers, politicians
civil servants, workers, and junior army officers-staged a mammoth
strike and demanded the resignation of Lt- Gen. Abboud and his
worse-than-useless government. Abboud resigned, was placed under house
arrest, interrogated, and released shortly thereafter. During
interrogation, Abboud denied that he gained power in a military coup.
He revealed that the former Prime Minister, retired Brig. Khalil, had
ordered him to assume power- a lawful order he obeyed.
Sayed Sirr al-Khalifa became Prime Minister and formed a transitional
government in which all the political parties were represented. The new
ruler attempted to a placate the south by appointing two southerners to
his ' cabinet, by releasing many southern political prisoners, and by
appointing many southerners as administrators in their region.
In 1965, the government invited southern leaders for talks to end the
civil war. But during the talks, the southerners themselves stalemated
the conference. A group of them wanted complete independence whereas
the other group favoured a loose federation. All the same relative
peace returned to the south.
National Movements and New States in Africa