Can peace be restored in Sudan?

How can calm be re-established in Sudan's capital, Khartoum?

Riots and retaliatory attacks started on Monday following the death of veteran Sudanese leader, John Garang.

Mr Garang signed a deal to end the 21 years of civil war in January and became vice-president in a new government of national unity. His funeral is due to take place on Saturday in the city of Juba.

As violence continues residents have been forced to flee their homes as gangs of men with clubs and automatic weapons roam the capital.

Are you in Khartoum? Have you witnessed the violence? Is enough being done to stop the trouble escalating? Send us your comments and experiences using the form on the right.

If you have witnessed these events and are willing to speak to the BBC News website about your experiences please include your phone number on the form. It will not be published.

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This debate is now closed. Read a selection of your comments below.

I guess peace can be restored if the mourners in both the south and the north give up any form of violence against the northerners, particularly during the burial of Dr Garang. Again it depends if the government of the Sudan stop the ongoing arrests of southerners in Khartoum and ensure that those already jailed during the riots are treated fairly and safely.
David Bala, Brisbane, Australia

Many of the social and cultural issues in Africa date back to their colonial occupation where the national borders were determined by the colonial rulers, without consideration of tribal boundaries. Colonial powers not only divided indigenous peoples, they also mixed them with bitter enemies. The ramifications are still being realized today. Perhaps it's time for Africans to redraw the national boarders in some of the continent's most troubled regions. A single national identity is impossible where the people regard clan/tribe of greater importance.
Rob G, Kansas City

Peace can only be restored in Sudan if all the people of southern Sudan and Darfur regions AND the concerned other countries like US, Uganda join to follow Kiir the man who was second to take charge of the peace talks. Help Kiir do the work.
Muhindo Alvin, Kampala, Uganda

Peace can only be restored in Sudan if the deaths of our hero Garang have nothing to do with Northern government supplying LRA with weapons to shot down helicopter. In addition to unity, 2011 is extensive; Northernism are still going to increase segregation against southern. The question is, can we limit six years to three?
Bior Keech, South Sudan/Arizona, USA

Yes, peace can be regained in Sudan but on conditions which can be summarized as following: ousting all foreign forces or elements from Sudan. Support from all African and Islamic states. UN support; financial and human resources support. Exerting all possible efforts to unite and reconcile between north and south of Sudan. Sudan must be kept away from any malicious interference in its interior affairs. Economic and social development for all Sudanese people throughout all Sudan.
Nabil Abdel Ahad Abdel Baky, Cairo, Egypt

Peace can be restored in Sudan but for that achievement the Sudanese people must bear in mind that even after the death of the deputy president, John Garang, there's one way left ahead. They must be leaders of their own destinies.
Leonel Muchano, Maputo, Mozambique

I strongly believe that yes, peace can be restored in Sudan. The fact that it is not the authorities who are in conflict and the immediate replacement of the fallen leader, is a clear indication for peace to the Sudanese. Secondly, if the rioting groups can just heed the call for calm from their leaders as had been emphasized, then definitely there would be no problems.
Thonax Monday Mwimanzi, Kitwe, Zambia

Let's hope the people of Sudan, especially those from the south, get the chance to reconcile with their Arab counterparts. These people have been through a lot of ups and downs. Let's hope peace prevails. God bless.
Abdul al Faser, Middlesbrough, England

People fear that the situation might remain unsafe for some time Justin Lemi Ramadan, Canada

I phoned to my mother in the Sudanese town of Juba. She did say that the situation is very tense that people were told to remain in their homes. People fear that the situation might remain unsafe for some time. As I tried to find out whether things might have changed, I found that phone lines were disconnected.
Justin Lemi Ramadan, Canada

Is there really that much mistrust and hate between northern and southerners? Are we really that uncivilized? Why don't we have a referendum to see who wants to live in the north and who wants to live in the south? This will save us all the hurt and loss of lives.
Jariaw, Khartoum

It is not for us Westerners to interfere with another country. Hard to watch, but this is the perfect time for us to keep our hands out of other people's business.
Alan, London

My brother in Khartoum told me that their area in the outskirts of Khartoum was calm. He sounded worried though, and said that most victims were northerners. According to him, the areas with big Southern communities in Khartoum, Kalakla in particular, were the most problematic.
O Almalik, Groningen, The Netherlands

Things in Khartoum are horrible. My shop has been burnt down by Arab gangs. And four of my family members are in the hospital because they protested when Mr Garang died.
John Kiir, Khartoum, Sudan

My fiancée is a medic and lives in a very active area at the centre of Khartoum Romani Ibrahim, South Wales

I am extremely worried about my fiancée and other family members who are living in Khartoum centre. My fiancée is a medic and lives in a very active area at the centre of Khartoum. She described some of the awful events in her area recently. People forcing their way into innocent people homes looting and killing, as well as random attacks on civilians in the streets.
Romani Ibrahim, South Wales

Peace can be restored in Sudan if the international community ensures a rapid, thorough and impartial probe into the cause of the crash that led to the death of Dr John Garang. The South Sudanese have been orphaned, but they are cool headed grown up orphans who are peace loving.
Joseph, Nimule, South Sudan

We live in Riyadh in Khartoum, but have left the country out of fear. I am one of the lucky few - our house is well guarded and has all the supplies of water food and electricity. I feel sorry for those who don't who have kids sitting in the dark.
Maha, Khartoum (in Jeddah now)

My husband is in north Khartoum at the moment. I spoke to him this evening and after an initial panic in the afternoon, calm has returned to the neighbourhood. No one is allowed into the centre. No one is out on the streets.
Eimear McBride, London

The government needs to increase the number of forces on the streets Daniel Deng, Dallas/Denver, USA

I have been in contact with relatives there and they have expressed fear. They said that the police are shooting at people even when they want to fetch water. Every basic necessity, food, water and everything else is outside and people need to be given the chance to move free. The government needs to increase the number of forces on the streets just to watch out for those who will start or engage in any troublesome acts.
Daniel Deng, Dallas/Denver, USA

I'm living in the suburbs of Khartoum and have been on neighbourhood patrol. Mainly rumours of midnight attacks, but we are too afraid to make assumptions.
Baha Eldin Osama, Khartoum, Sudan

I have seen the gangs rise up and take over the streets. People stay indoors because of the crime. Sometimes you hear gun shots during the day but at night things are more quiet.
Ahmad Ghoha, Sudan

This unpleasant situation will be over soon since it happened as reaction to Dr Garang's death. Should this violence continue, the government, as well as SPLA authorities, have to revaluate the transitional period. However, through unity of independence, the peace should remain a holy target for all parties.
Suliman M Dafala, Sudanese in Saudi

Peace can only be restored to Sudan if all Sudanese simply accept that John Garang's death was nothing else but an accident. Digging into the cause of his helicopter crash, will land the country into mayhem.
Emmanuel Wembenyui, Brisbane, Australia

The mob outside seemed to only grow larger as they pelted each other with large rocks, glass bottles and bullets Andy Myland, Khartoum

The sentence I have heard most over the last three days from all sides is, "I can't believe it happened." The same shock that many Westerners felt when Princess Diana died is the closest to describe the feeling here. Riots broke out in front of the African International University where I attend and the next four hours were like being in a movie or a news reel as I along with hundreds students listened to gun fire as we watched from behind a fence as thousands of people hurt each other and burnt buildings.

The mob outside seemed to only grow larger as they took turns first all running to the east and then the west as they pelted each other with large rocks, glass bottles and bullets. Black smoke billowed in many directions and the sounds of gun fire and explosions could be heard. Black against brown, it has been one of the saddest things I have ever seen. Sad, that two groups of adults and many young people have such an anger and hate for each other. I can not imagine what the southerners are going through right now. Imagine, over 20 years of war, 2 million people dead and your leader is killed after less than a month in power. My prayer is that lasting peace will come soon.
Andy Myland, Khartoum (from Canada)

Where is the United Nations? Are they going to wait until thousands die and say: we should have done something. There is know reason for this violence and it only happens because we, the world, stand back and do nothing.
Dwayne Chastain, West Jefferson, Ohio

I doesn't seem as though the violence will be prolonged. It is an emotional reaction to the loss of a cherished and valuable symbol in the Southern struggle. Once both sides realise that they can ill-afford to restart fighting, cooler heads will prevail and the steps toward peace will be continued. Too much has been gained, thus there is too much too be lost. The punch and counter-punch that we've seen in the past 3 days will likely subside once the grieving is over. There is too much hope and momentum in the peace for this to derail things (we all hope). We've mostly been indoors the past days, and there are still scattered outbursts. It will be critical to investigate and rule out foul play expeditiously.
M. Mahdi, Khartoum, Sudan

There is a lot of military in riot gear and an uneasy tension all over town Christof Kurz, Khartoum, Sudan

We have witnessed ugly scenes in the past three days. The grief of some southerners has expressed itself in indiscriminate looting and burning of shops, cars and pelting northerners, even other southerners and foreigners with rocks and sticks. Now the northerners are doing the same to southerners in reprisal. There is a lot of military in riot gear and an uneasy tension all over town. There is little trust between north and south and containing the violence by military means, while needed right now, will do nothing to restore at least a modicum of trust between the two groups. All kinds of rumours are flying around and that needs to be stopped. President Bashir and Salva Kiir should appear in public together and call for peace, otherwise grudges and grievances may continue to build up and things may escalate further.
Christof Kurz, Khartoum, Sudan

On my way to the airport late this morning, I saw heavily armed military personnel on the streets. I also saw ruins of burnt shops and serious signs of tension in the city. The town is extremely volatile, and some streets that I have known to be really busy, are virtually empty. It is only important that the Sudanese take charge of their emotions during this mourning period, and ensure a peaceful co existence as we join them in mourning Garang
George Kijana, Khartoum, Sudan

In order for the peace deal to truly last, certain attitudes amongst the people of the Sudan need to change. Furthermore, what Sudan really needs is a leader who is able to transcend, and indeed unite, all the different ethnic groups that makes Sudan one of the most fascinating countries in the world. Not an easy challenge, but a truly magnificent one to achieve.
Mo, Brighton

The mood in the city is tense, and all before we have any concrete idea of how this tragedy occurred, restraint should be urged.
Ali, Khartoum, Sudan

My area of Khartoum seems relatively quiet at the moment. The central down town area seemed relatively quiet until midday, with fewer vehicles than normal. Curfew is still in place from 6pm. Many civilians with sticks and staves are on their way home from the office and all seem very nervous. There are many army special forces on the street. Mobile phones seem to be Khartoum's worst enemy as unsubstantiated rumours fly from phone to phone stirring up unnecessary hatred.
Allan, Khartoum

Unfortunately, no matter the cause of Garang's death, a certain percentage of his followers will believe it was the result of foul play. This threatens to split the SPLA, and the recently signed peace agreement in the south. Garang's passing at this time is a serious blow to the years of diplomacy that finally brought a measure of peace to the south. Cooler heads will eventually prevail, but the damage has already been done.
Bill Thom, Woodbridge, USA

Send more UN peace keeping troops in Sudan, to disarmed the forces, and conduct a general election. Let the people elect who they want, and their will be peace in that country.
Sylvaus Mustapha, Kenema, Sierra Leone

Doctor Garang has passed away but the Sudanese need to be patient, and keep calm so as to stop the violence. We need to know what should be done later and how to implement the peace and translate it to reality more the clashing between southern civilians and the police by smashing cars and throwing the stones.
Abdelwahab Mohammed Gadrmary, Khartoum, Sudan