Sudan enforces tight security measures before Powell, Annan visits

KHARTOUM, Sudan, June 29, 2004 (AP) — The Sudanese government Tuesday tightened security in the capital and banned demonstrations ahead of the arrival of U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell and U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

The official Sudan Media Center said the ban was issued by the national security and intelligence office “as part of the security measures” adopted for the two visits.

Powell, who arrives later Tuesday, and Annan, who comes Wednesday, are expected to press the government to end the fighting in the western Darfur region, where a major humanitarian crisis is continuing due to a 16-month insurgency.

The Sudanese Popular Commission for Peoples’ Support had announced Monday it was planning huge demonstrations against U.S. and U.N. statements about the situation in Darfur.

U.S. officials have called the situation an “ethnic cleansing” and an effort to force out the desolate region’s African majority. Sudanese officials reject the claims and say the warring sides are clashing over land and water resources.

Last week, Annan raised the possibility of sending international troops to Darfur in case the Sudanese government was unable to ensure the safety of the civilians in the area.

Powell will visit Darfur Wednesday for talks with Sudanese officials and relief workers and to visit camps housing thousands of displaced villagers in El Fasher, capital of North Darfur state.

Annan is expected to visit internally displaced camps on Thursday and Sudanese refugee camps in Chad on Friday.