Sudanese government reacts to US embassy statement over papers suspension

By Al-Ra’y al-Amm daily newspaper

KHARTOUM, Dec 17, 2003 — The [Sudanese] government affirmed that it was not working towards silencing the “other opinion”.

It added that suspending [Sudanese based] newspapers Al-Ayyam and Khartoum Monitor took place according to bylaws and regulations in effect.

In the context of commenting on the US embassy statement in Khartoum, it stressed that it was concerned about the suspension of the two papers.

The director of the US department in the Ministry of External Affairs, Ambassador Muhammad Amin al-Karib, said that officials had informed the US Charge d’affaires that the two newspapers had published controversial issues that did not promote an atmosphere of peace and concord, could have probably impeded the peace process.

Ambassador Karib said, the issue of suspending the newspapers was the subject of a recent discussion between officials at the foreign ministry and the US charge d’ affaires.

BBC Monitoring Media