The factory claims no links to chemical weapons

In this story:

• Demonstrators destroy British flag
• Factory owner may seek compensation
• Attack also hit candy factory
• Related stories and sites

KHARTOUM, Sudan (CNN) -- As Sudan stepped up its criticism of the U.S. missile attack against a Sudanese pharmaceutical factory, a lawyer for the factory owner said Saturday that the owner had no ties to Osama bin Laden, the terrorist the United States blames for the African embassy bombings.

RELATED VIDEO
CNN's Brent Sadler reports from Khartoum, Sudan
Windows Media	28K	56K
3.9 M / 51 sec. / 240x180 QuickTime movie
Please enable Javascript
ALSO: Sources: Bin Laden charged with inciting violence against U.S. citizens

Ghazi Suleiman, the attorney for Salah Idris, owner of El Shifa Pharmaceutical Industries Co., said Idris did not know bin Laden and said the factory produced only drugs, not chemical weapons.

"I think the Americans are under bad information and they are not well briefed," Suleiman said. "I think it would have been prudent before destroying the plant to come and investigate the site."

The Sudanese government, which has been beleaguered by economic failure and 15 years of war with rebels in the south, has used the attack to whip up public support.

At a Saturday rally in Khartoum attended by 5,000 people, President Omar el-Bashir said that Sudanese were prepared to die in a holy war.

"America is attacking us because we are guardians of Islam," el-Bashir said. "We have tasted the sweet flavor of jihad (holy war) and martyrdom, and what we seek now is to die for the sake of God."

Demonstrators destroy British flag

After el-Bashir's speech, some 500 protesters went to the British Embassy and hurled stones at the building. One demonstrator climbed to the top of the embassy flagpole and cut down the Union Jack, which the angry demonstrators then tore to pieces. The British government approved of Thursday's attack by the United States.

Thousands of outraged demonstrators rally after the U.S. attacks

Sudan has asked for a U.N. Security Council meeting to consider an investigation into the factory's production and the attack.

The cruise missile attack demolished the factory and killed one person while wounding nine others. The United States says the factory was producing materials for use in creating deadly VX nerve gas.

Sudanese officials also continued to accuse U.S. President Clinton of ordering the attack to distract U.S. public opinion from his affair with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky.

"So depending on what the United States government thinks about its own internal position vis-a-vis the American public, we do not rule out the possibility of further strikes," said Sudanese Minister of Information Ghazi Salah Eldin.

The Attack
Map of Targets World Reaction Osama Bin Ladin interview Latest News CNN Transcripts
Interactive
Map: "Terror State" tracker Voices: Reactions to the Strikes The U.S. Strikes Back: A quiz
Multimedia
Gallery: Images from Sudanese TV Related Video Message Board: America's response to terrorism Tomahawk Cruise Missile Quicktime

A banner at the rally also hit that theme, stating "No war for Monica."

Factory owner may seek compensation

The Sudanese are demanding millions of dollars in compensation, for not only the destruction but also the lost income of factory workers.

"Three hundred Sudanese with their families, total of 3,000 Sudanese, they are now out of jobs in an environment of economic depression, so there is no chance for them to find any substitute," Suleiman said.

Suleiman said Idris, who was in London at the time of the attacks, may seek $50 million in compensation from the United States for the attack. He bought the plant in March 1998.

The plant produced 60 percent of Sudan's pharmaceutical drugs and exported as well, Suleiman said. It produced mainly antibiotics, he said.

Suleiman is a leading Sudanese opposition figure who spent 25 days in prison earlier this year. He said Idris has never met bin Laden or spoken of him, and has no political affiliation.

"They are different characters," Suleiman said. "Mr. Idris has no interest in politics. He is a businessman."

Attack also hit candy factory

Three Jordanian engineers who worked at the plant from its 1996 opening to 1997 said Saturday that the plant was not equipped to produce ingredients for chemical weapons.

Addressing a news conference in Amman, Jordan, organized by the Sudanese embassy, the three men said the factory was designed only to produce medical tablets, capsules and vaccines.

A candy factory's supplies lie ruined in the smashed storehouse

The attack by U.S. cruise missiles also hit another plant 550 meters (600 yards) down the road from the Shifa plant. The blast wrecked the storehouse of a candy factory, ruining hundreds of tons of baking ingredients. Cruise missile parts were found in the rubble.

"If this missile was targeting my factory. I don't know. It's something you can't believe it, it's too much," said Mohammed Abbas of the Kardman Sweet Factory.