Sudan’s ruling party accuses Libya of meddling

Oct 5, 2005 (KHARTOUM) — A prominent leader from the Sudanese ruling National Congress Party (NCP) has fiercely condemned attempts by the Libyan government to mediate the eastern Sudan rebelst and government over the eastern problem.

In a statement to the pro-NCP Sudanese Media Centre (SMC), Musa Hussein Dirar, a leader in the NCP, said Libya should concentrate on the Darfur issue, which is closer to its borders, and which it earlier sought to bring closer the views of the government and those of rebels.

Dirar said that the Sudanese government should be the one to seek Libyan mediation to reconcile Khartoum and Asmara. However, it is totally unacceptable Libya to take up internal negotiations like the eastern issue, as was reported in the press recently.

He urged the government to look into the eastern issue through what he called “national efforts” and not via foreign initiatives.

He said the issue did not need regional interference since the political administration was capable of solving the problem.

Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi received on Monday October 3 a delegation from al-Rashayda tribe in eastern Sudan. At the same time a Libyan delegation headed by Foreign Ministry Suleiman al-Shahabi was in Asmara to discuss the issue with Eritrean President Isayas Afewerki.

(ST)