US reportedly opposed to proposed Sudanese quadripartite meeting in Paris

By Sana Abbas, Al-Ra’y al-Amm daily newspaper

WASHINGTON, Nov 21, 2003 — The chairman of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement [SPLM], Dr John Garang, will conclude his visit to Washington today.

During the visit which lasted some days, he held some meetings with US officials including the US Secretary of State, Colin Powell.

Meanwhile, US and Sudanese officials are expected to exchange visits between Khartoum and Washington ahead of the coming round of peace talks. The USA told the SPLM leader, John Garang, its objection to the holding of the intended quadripartite meeting in Paris between Sudanese leaders [Dr John Garang, Dr Hasan al-Turabi, Mr Muhammad Uthman al-Mirghani and Al-Sadiq al-Mahdi].

Meanwhile, the Sudanese charge d’affaires in Washington, Ambassador Khidr Harun, has disclosed of intensive contacts being made by the US administration with the Sudanese government and the SPLM in order to establish well the opinion of each party ahead of resumption of the peace talks.

BBC Monitoring Middle East