New Zanzibar Govt Declares Republic

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30338, 14 January 1964, Page 11

New Zanzibar Govt Declares Republic

(N.ZJ>-A.-Reuter—Copyright) ZANZIBAR, January 13, Zanzibar’s new republican Government has declared a state of emergency and warned all approaching ships to keep outside territorial waters, Zanzibar Radio reported. As sporadic gunfire was heard last night, the last police station, which had been resisting attacks, was reported to have fallen. Zanzibar Radio, warned Britain, the United States, China and Uganda not to interfere with the “Republic of Zanzibar,” and said that if they did, they would be met by force.

Zanzibar Radio said the ousted Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed Shamti, had agreed to resign provided he and his family were given a safe conduct. The radio said he had taken refuge with the British High Commissioner.

The radio said the new President was Sheikh Obeid Karume, leader of the AfroShirazi Party, and Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly elected last July. Sheikh Karume, aged 58, began life as a boatboy on the Zanzibar waterfront after only 18 months’ formal primary school education. A compelling public speaker in Swahili, his interest in politics began when he joined the British Seamen’s Union.

The other key figure in the new Government is Sheikh Abdul Rahman Babu of the Left-wing Umma Party which was banned a week ago by the Arab-dominated coalition ousted yesterday. He is Home Minister in the new Government. A State Department source in Washington said the Umma Party was “communist oriented.” Information in Washington indicated Sheikh Babu to be a known Communist-sym-pathiser whose party had similar leanings.

Sheikh Babu had travelled extensively in Communist

countries and had been receiving a salary as a representative of a Chinese news agency. United Press International said it was noted that Sheikh Babu was the most widely known Communist sympathiser on Zanzibar, that his followers were largely financed by Communists, and that he returned in December from a trip to Peking. Yesterday in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanganyika, Sheikh Babu said the banning of his party eight days ago had sparked off the revolt. He said the uprising did not appear to have been properly organised, but was a spontaneous revolt by people dissatisfied with the Government. "No Surprise” He said the revolt came as no surprise to him. He said he had forecast something like a revolt when the Government refused to invite op-

position leaders for talks in a bid to solve differences. The Umma and the AfroShirazi Parties had the support of 60 per cent of the people, he said. If the revolt succeeded they would consult all people to find unity. Zanzibar Radio said the Sultan of Zanzibar had fled the. country and his whereabouts were unknown. Some unconfirmed reports in Mombasa, Kenya, said the Sultan had been transferred from the yacht On which he took refuge, to another vessel named the Seyyed Khalifa. The reports said both ships were heading for Mombasa and would arrive this morning. Three Killed Three people were reported to have been killed in fighting during the 'coup, with 24, including two women, wounded. The British naval survey ship Owen has been ordered to Zanzibar to take off the 300 British citizens there if they are in danger, but was ordered not to intervene for any other purpose. British women are working in local hospitals and clinics helping doctors and nurses tend the wounded. The United States destroyer Manley is lying off shore, evacuating American families, most of whom are employed at the United States satellite tracking station.