US warns citizens in Sudan of demos marking 1998 pharmaceutical plant attack
WASHINGTON, Aug 19 (AFP) — The United States warned Americans in Sudan to avoid government-approved demonstrations this week marking the fifth anniversary of the 1998 US missile strike on a pharmaceutical plant in Khartoum.
The State Department, through its embassy in the Sudanese capital, said US citizens should take extra precautions and steer clear of any large crowds from the August 20 anniversary of the attack until August 27, the period during which protests are expected.
“The government of Sudan has chosen to observe the fifth anniversary of the American missile attack on the Al-Shifa Pharmaceutical Factory in Khartoum North,” the embassy said in a notice to US citizens.
“The embassy believes it prudent to remind Americans living in Khartoum that they may wish to take extra precautions from August 20-27, such as avoid going out as much as possible, keeping a low profile when going out, and avoiding large gatherings of people,” it said.
A copy of the notice was provided to AFP in Washington by the State Department.
The Al-Shifa plant was destroyed by US missiles on August 20, 1998, in retaliation for bomb attacks blamed on Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaeda network that targetted the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, killing more than 200 people.
Former US president Bill Clinton’s administration said at the time that the plant had links to bin Laden and had been making chemical weapons.
Sudan has vehemently denied the allegations, maintaining that the factory produced drugs for the local market and the US claim has been hotly disputed by others, including by some in Washington.
Sunday, Sudanese Foreign Minister Mustafa Ismail told reporters in Khartoum that Sudan would reactivate a complaint at the United Nations against the United States for the missile strike.
“The government will not give up its right on this issue,” he said.
“The complaint “is still with the UN Security Council, waiting to be set in motion … we intend to reopen the case,” Ismail said, giving no hints on when this would happen. “We are going to commemorate next Wednesday this attack.”