Sudan says Eritrea withdraws troops from border
Oct 20, 2005 (KHARTOUM) — Eritrea has withdrawn a large number of troops from its border with Sudan in a step towards improving strained relations between the two neighbours, Sudan’s foreign minister said on Thursday.
Sudan has accused Eritrea of arming and supporting rebel groups from both the east and western Darfur region. The groups have offices in the Eritrean capital Asmara, but Eritrea denies the existence of any Sudanese armed men on its soil.
“Our people on the ground have witnessed the withdrawal of a large number of Eritrean armed forces (from the border),” Sudan’s new foreign minister, Lam Akol, told reporters.
The withdrawal follows a week-long visit by a high-level Eritrean delegation, including the foreign minister, to Khartoum, he said. The Eritrean visit will be reciprocated by a Sudanese delegation going to Asmara.
Akol, a southerner, was appointed as part of a new coalition government between the ruling National Congress Party and the former southern rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM).
The SPLM had good relations with both the eastern and Darfur rebels and the Eritreans when they were fighting Khartoum.
Like their counterparts in Darfur, rebels in the eastern states bordering Eritrea say they are fighting to end what they call Khartoum’s neglect of outlying areas.
They are meeting this week in Asmara to discuss possible future peace talks with Khartoum.
The east contains Sudan’s only port, Port Sudan, the main oil pipeline which carries Sudanese crude exports and Sudan’s largest gold mine.
(Reuters)