Sudan reiterates rejection of having international monitors in Darfur

BBC Monitoring Middle East

By Al-Sahafah daily newspaper

KHARTOUM, Nov. 04, 2003 –The minister of external relations, Dr Mustafa Uthman Isma’il, has reiterated the government’s rejection of the internationalization of the Darfur [western Sudan] issue.

At the same time, he expressed the government’s wish to deliver humanitarian aid to the needy [in Darfur] with support of the international community.

Commenting on the accusations made by the [rebel] SLM/A [Sudan Liberation Movement/Army], against the government’s obstinacy in rejecting the SLM request for international monitors, Isma’il said that having international monitors would lead to the internationalization of the whole issue.[Passage omitted]

At the same time, the minister belittled the importance of the of the US decision to extend Sudan’s sanctions for another year and called it ‘unfair’.