US special envoy panic moments in Sudan over missing documents

June 04, 2008 (KHARTOUM) – The US special envoy to Sudan Richard Williamson ended his visit to Khartoum yesterday on a panic moment, indicating a frustrating day for him.

Williamson announced to reporters that Sudan-US talks were suspended after failing in his bid to bridge differences between the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) and Sudan People Liberation Movement (SPLM) over the oil rich region of Abyei.

Multiple sources told Sudan Tribune that Williamson abruptly stopped his motorcade and returned to the site of negotiations in Khartoum called ‘The Diplomatic Club’.

The US envoy, appearing tense, got off his car in fast steps looking around as if he was searching for something missing. Williamson’s bewildered entourage and reporters looked at him as he rushed inside ‘The Diplomatic Club’ from the wrong entrance.

It turned out that the US envoy left some of his documents at the table where he was sitting. Williamson picked them up and came out with a smile of relief on his face.

The US special envoy left yesterday on his way back to Washington where he is expected to brief President Bush on the outcome of his talks on normalizing ties with Khartoum.

(ST)