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