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Bush agrees to lift sanctions on Sudan, sends Danforth as envoy

SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Monday, September 10, 2001

WASHINGTON Ñ The United States has agreed to ease restrictions on Sudan.

Officials said the Bush administration has agreed that United Nations sanctions would be lifted from Sudan. The sanctions were imposed in 1996 by the UN Security Council amid allegations that the regime in Khartoum supports terrorism.

The U.S. agreement, officials said, is part of a drive by the administration to improve relations with Khartoum. Washington has sent several envoys over the past month to discuss a roadmap to restore diplomatic and other ties.

On Thursday, the administration appointed former U.S. Sen. John Danforth to be a permanent envoy to Khartoum. Officials said Danforth would negotiate a $30 million U.S. aid package to Khartoum as well as help that country end its 18-year civil war.

"I'm under no illusions," President George Bush said. "John Danforth is taking on an incredibly difficult assignment. The degree of difficulty is high. But this is an issue that is really important. It's important to this administration. It's important to the world to bring some sanity to the Sudan."

U.S. officials said Danforth's mission will be to end the civil war, facilitate humanitarian aid and end Khartoum's support for terrorism.

The Security Council will adopt a resolution to remove sanctions from Sudan on Sept. 17, the officials said. They said the removal would coincide with Khartoum's agreement for renewed mediation efforts between Sudan and opposition groups.

Officials said UN sanctions against Sudan appeared vulnerable after Egypt reconciled with the Khartoum regime. The sanctions were imposed after Sudan refused to extradite three suspects in the 1995 assassination attempt of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Addis Ababa. Sudan was said to have been behind the attack.

UN officials have confirmed the intention to remove sanctions from Sudan. But they said any escalation in fighting between Sudanese troops and southern rebels could derail the plans.

"A grain of sand could still block the machine," Security Council president Jean-David Levitte of France said.

Monday, September 10, 2001



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