Sudan protests at EU sanctions threat

KHARTOUM, Oct 12 (AFP) — The Sudanese foreign ministry summoned the European Union’s delegation chief to protest at a renewed threat of EU sanctions over the crisis in Darfur.

The protest came as Dutch Foreign Minister Bernard Bot, whose country currently holds the EU’s rotating presidency, was due to visit Sudan after making the sanctions threat.

Sudanese Foreign Minister Mustafa Osman Ismail said Khartoum would welcome any international fact-finding effort on Darfur “but at the same time, we reject a visit by any official with the aim of threatening and pressuring the Sudan.”

At least 50,000 people have been killed in Darfur and 1.4 million people have fled their homes since two rebel movements rose up against the Khartoum government in February, 2003.

Khartoum’s response was to arm and support the Janjaweed, an Arab militia which has been accused of committing massive human rights abuses against Darfur’s black African people.

Earlier this month the EU said it would wait for a green light from the United Nations before deciding whether to impose sanctions on the Sudanese government over Darfur.

“The Sudanese government should continue to feel the pressure from as many sides as possible,” Bot told reporters after EU foreign ministers discussed the Darfur crisis at regular talks in Luxembourg.

“It is very important that the threat of sanctions be maintained.”