Sudan denies aiding Ugandan rebels, calls them terrorists, outlaws

KHARTOUM, July 5, 2003 (SUNA) — Sudan has affirmed its regard to the rebel Ugandan Lord Resistance Army (LRA) as a terrorist and outlaw organization, besides its commitment to the agreement which it has signed with the Ugandan government.

Deputy Chief of Staff for Orientation and the Armed Forces’ Spokesman Gen Muhammad Bashir Sulayman, stressed in a statement to SUNA, following talks between Sudanese and Ugandan military delegations here, Sudan’s rejection to the accusations which were circulated by the media on Sudan support to the LRA.

Gen Sulayman has criticized the mass media hastiness to tackle issues like these while there existed open dialogue channels between Sudan and Uganda.

The Ugandan military delegation left Khartoum on Friday [4 July] after talks which lasted for three days.

He said that the Ugandan delegation’s visit was aimed at reviewing and developing relations between the two countries, after claims circulated by the media about Sudan support to the LRA.

He said that the Ugandan delegation met with the minister of national defence and the chief of staff.

Gen Sulayman indicated that the two sides have deliberated about the Sudanese-Ugandan relations and the importance of commitment to implement the agreements which were signed by the two countries.

He said that an agreement was reached on continuation of the military talks after two weeks.