Sudan complains to USA against Eritrea

WASHINGTON, June 24, 2005 (Sudan Tribune) — During his visit to Washington, Sudanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Mustafa Osman Ismail complained against Eritrea and asked the US Administration to exert steady pressure on the country so that it can change its negative stance towards all the Sudanese issues.

According to the Sudanese Al-Ray al-Amm newspaper, during his meeting with a number of US officials, Ismail described Eritrea’s stances as “treacherous”.

Eritrea on Wednesday June 22 rejected Sudanese accusations it is giving military support to eastern rebels now fighting Khartoum’s forces south of Port Sudan in Sudan’s Red Sea state.

The minister will today meet US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, while yesterday he held talks with US Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick.

Diplomatic sources said the meeting touched on all pending issues between Sudan and the Bush Administration and Ismail gave a full briefing on Sudan’s political developments, as well as the steps taken to implement the Nairobi agreement .

At the same time, Isma’il urged Washington to remove Sudan from the list of countries that sponsor terrorism and lift the economic sanctions imposed on his country.

Ismail will on Monday 27 June meet UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to discuss political steps and programs carried out by the Sudanese government to implement UN resolutions.

Compiled with material from the BBC Monitoring Service.