Sudan says committed to protecting diplomats – minister

Mar 8, 2006 (KHARTOUM) — The minister of justice, Mohamed Ali al-Maradi, has affirmed the government’s commitment to protect the lives of diplomats working in Sudan.

In a circular published by the ministry today, Al-Maradi said the Sudanese government was committed to making every effort to protect the diplomats and facilitate their mission.

It also said that the government was taking all measures to affirm Sudan’s commitment to international laws and diplomatic conventions.

It said Sudanese laws were enough to provide full protection for diplomats and employees of the UN and other international organizations, pointing out that all the legal systems were aware of their responsibilities in this regard.

This government announcement comes in reaction to threats made against the UN special envoy to Sudan, Jan Pronk, by militant youth. Local media reported a bounty of 100,000 US dollars placed on the head of the UN envoy by the leader of the Sudanese General Students’ Union, Mohamed Abdallah Sheikh Idris.

In related development, the Sudanese police arrested the chief editor of al-Watan newspaper Sidahmed al-Khalifa to investigate on the announcement made by the islamist student organization.

(ST)