British Embassy in Sudan says closure was not politically motivated

August 25, 2007 (KHARTOUM) — The British Embassy in Khartoum dismissed reports saying that the temporary suspension of the consular service last week meant to encourage political instability in Sudan.

The embassy described as “totally baseless “recent articles in some local newspapers suggesting that our decision to temporarily suspend public services at the Embassy was politically motivated or designed to encourage instability in Sudan”.

The UK mission said it took this step as precautionary measure due to an increased threat of terrorism in Khartoum.

Spokesperson of the ministry of foreign affairs, Ali al-Sadiq, disclosed last week that a security alert from the Sudanese authorities triggered the temporary closure of visa, consular sections of the British embassy in Khartoum.

“We were operating on information supplied to us by the Sudanese Authorities, which have publicly confirmed the existence of such a threat.”

The closure of the consular service at the UK embassy came after Sudanese police found three weapons caches in the capital during the past week. Police arrested eight Sudanese in connection with the stores, which mostly contained grenades and ammunition.

(ST)