In a briefing on Nov. 9, the unidentified official said Washington
wanted Sudan to implement a 2005 agreement to determine the future of the
south as well as the oil-rich region of Abyei. He said Sudan must also
demonstrate that it no longer supported "international terrorism" for at
least six months.
Sudan has been one of four countries deemed terrorist sponsors.
Officials said Sudan has hosted such groups as Hamas and the
Iranian-sponsored Islamic Jihad.
"The [terrorist] designation prohibits Sudan from buying or receiving
U.S. armaments and from receiving any U.S. economic assistance, in addition
to other restrictions," the State Department said.
Under the U.S. offer, which capped six months of intensive diplomacy,
the Khartoum regime must not hamper United Nations peacekeeping forces in
the rebel-torn province of Darfour. Another condition was that the southern
referendums take place on Jan. 9.
"We have to do everything that we possibly can to see that the referenda
are held on time and that we do as much as we possibly can to ensure that
the outcome is a peaceful one rather than a resumption of conflict," the
official said.