ABU DHABI Ñ Saudi Arabia has agreed to explore the prospect of military cooperation with Sudan.

Talks have been held between Sudanese Defense Minister Bakri Saleh and Saudi Defense Minister Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz to establish links between their militaries. Few details have been disclosed.

Arab diplomatic sources said the Saudi kingdom intends to help Sudanese President Omar Bashir reenter the Arab and international community after years of isolation. Bashir is said to have ended Sudan's support for Islamic insurgency since the dismissal of parliamentary speaker Hassan Turabi in 1999.

The sources said Egypt has urged Riyad to help Sudan. Khartoum remains on the U.S. State Department list of terrorist sponsors.

Sudan also wants to receive support from Saudi Arabia to bolster Khartoum's security services. The subject was a topic of discussion between visiting Sudanese Interior Minister Adel Hussein and his Saudi counterpart, Prince Nayef Bin Abdul Aziz.

The Jedda-based Saudi radio said that Hussein also reviewed the latest security developments in Sudan.

Last week, Sudan arrested an alleged espionage ring headed by a Tunisian national that was said to have provided information on Khartoum's support for terrorism since 1993. The arrest has harmed relations between Khartoum and Tunis.

Print this Article

Email this article

Free Headline Alerts