Bashir restricts movement of US nationals in Sudan

Sept 24, 2006 (KHARTOUM) — In a new escalation with the United States, Sudanese president ordered to restrict the movement of the US nationals in Sudan. He said the removal of this measure depends on the amelioration of the bilateral ties.

In a press conference held Sunday evening after his return from the US, president Omar al-Bashir has restricted the movement of all the Americans in Sudan at a geographical limit of 25 kilometers, as from the Republican Palace in Khartoum.

Al-Bashir said that the decision comes as an act of equal treatment to that made to him and the accompanying delegation during their recent visit to New York to participate at meetings of the Peace and Security Council.

He said that any American official visiting Sudan will have his passport stamped and his movement restricted at a limit of 25 kilometers.

He said that this measure would not be removed unless the relations between Sudan and the United States are improved.

Al-Bashir said that Darfur issue will a stumbling block for any one who wanted to utilize this issue for reaching personal goals or in his election campaign. He also refuted the claims on continuity of the fighting in Darfur.

Sudanese State Minister for Foreign Affairs Ali Ahmed Karti said that the crisis in the western Sudanese region of Darfur has become a card in elections in the United States.

The steps taken by the U.S. administration on the Darfur issue were aimed at “getting satisfaction of American voters in the complementary elections for the Congress and to gratify humanitarian and Jewish organizations that are funding the American elections”, Karti was quoted as saying.

U.S. President George W. Bush repeated the charge of genocide in Darfur when he addressed world leaders at the UN General Assembly earlier this week and he appointed a special envoy to bring more pressure on the Khartoum government under the leadership of President Omar el-Bashir.

(ST)