Sudan expels western diplomats
Sudan has reportedly expelled two western diplomats
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Thursday, 23, Aug 2007 07:53
The Sudanese government has expelled diplomats representing the European Commission (EC) and the Canadian government, according to reports.
The east African nation's state news agency, Suna, quotes foreign ministry spokesperson Ali al-Sadek as saying the EC's envoy and the Canadian charge d'affaires have been declared persona non grata.
No specific reason has been given for the expulsions beyond the fact that they were judged to have "interfered in Sudanese affairs".
The EC, which prioritises food security and education and capacity building in its relations with Khartoum, has said it is seeking to "resolve the situation".
The development is the latest in a series of clashes between the Sudanese government and the international community. UN envoy Jan Pronk was expelled from the country after being accused of violating international law by discussing "sensitive issues" in October last year.
Western nations have been angered by Khartoum's apparent lassitude in failing to prevent the janjaweed militia persecuting rebel tribes in the country's eastern Darfur region.
This conflict has created one of the worst humanitarian disasters in the world today, with at least 200,000 believed to have died and two million displaced so far.
After months of reluctance the Sudanese government finally agreed to accept a UN force in Darfur, which was approved in New York on August 1st.
But that has not prevented the international criminal court's demand for the trial of two suspected war criminals, dismissed by Khartoum, or other overtly critical measures from foreign governments and organisations.