Bush administration sets terms for improved ties with Sudan
SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Monday, April 30, 2001
WASHINGTON Ñ The United States has set conditions for any
improvement in relations with Sudan.
U.S. officials said the first condition is for the regime of Sudanese
President Omar Bashir to end attacks on villages in the war-torn south. The
fighting pits Sudanese government troops and their militia allies against
the Sudanese People's Liberation Army.
The Bashir regime has launched an offensive against the SPLA over the
last month that diplomatic sources in Khartoum describe as having met some
success. On Thursday, SPLA leader John Garang offered Khartoum a ceasefire.
"There can be no better relations with the United States until we see
progress, first and foremost, on stopping the bombing," U.S. Secretary of
State Colin Powell told the House Appropriations Committee on Thursday.
Relations with Sudan were essentially severed in 1996 amid threats to
U.S. diplomats in Khartoum. Sudan is on a State Department list of terrorist
sponsors.
Powell said the Bush administration will examine several ways to stop
the civil war, including the naming of a presidential envoy. But the
secretary said this must preceded by a clear administration policy.
As Powell was testifying, the U.S. Commission on International Religious
Freedom told Congress that Sudan's record on violations of religious freedom
had worsened.
The fighting between government troops and the SPLA is reported to be
focused around the area of the Blue Nile. Both sides have claimed successes.
But Garang's offer to the Bashir regime would end insurgency attacks against
Sudanese oil installations in exchange for a halt in the government
offensive.
Monday, April 30, 2001
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