US urges Chad, Sudan to resolve differences through talks

April 14, 2006 (WASHINGTON) — The State Department criticized Chad’s decision to suspend diplomatic relations with Sudan and urged the countries to settle their differences through dialogue.

“Our view on that is that more channels of communication are better than fewer,” spokesman Sean McCormack said Friday.

He said he was unable to confirm Chad’s claim that Sudan was behind a rebel attack in the Chadian capital of N’djamena that is said to have claimed hundreds of lives.

If such actions “were in any way instigated or provoked or helped by the government of Sudan, we would, in fact, find that very disturbing,” he said.

Responding to reports that Chad has sealed its border with Sudan, McCormack said any such step would raise “grave concerns” about the potential effect on access to and security for refugees. The embattled Darfur region of Sudan borders Chad, and hundreds of thousands of Darfur refugees are in Chad.

“We call upon the government of Chad to uphold its responsibilities, as outlined by the U.N. and international obligations, to provide protection for these refugees,” McCormack said.

(ST/AP)