Sudan will “respond” to attacks by opposition from Eritrea: FM
KHARTOUM, Oct 3, 2004 (Al-Sahafah) — The government has warned the armed opposition factions against launching attacks from Eritrean territory on eastern Sudan and threatened to respond to any possible aggression.
The minister of Foreign affairs, Mustafa Osman Ismail [photo], yesterday told the press that the government would not accept that the current situation in Darfur would be transferred to eastern Sudan, and it would accept a fait accompli under the threat of force either in east or west of Sudan.
He said that the authorities were monitoring the situation in eastern Sudan and would respond to any attack on the region.
He stressed the government’s commitment to continue dialogue with the Beja Congress and the Free Lions Association which withdrew from the Cairo talks between the government and the opposition National Democratic Alliance (NDA). But he nevertheless regretted their withdrawal.
Meanwhile, he hoped that talks between the government and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), due to be held in Nairobi on 26 November, on outstanding disagreements will be the last before the New year, pointing out the government determination to reach a peace deal before implementing the Naivasha Protocols.
Material from the BBC Monitoring Service