US suspends peace talks with Sudan
Sudan-USA, Politics, 2/22/2002

US State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher said yesterday that there has been another incident in Sudan, where the government forces attacked civilians saying "the government needs to explain what's going on. On the one hand, the government is talking about reaching peace in these regions, and on the other hand, they are bombing civilian aid workers, and we find it hard to continue the peace efforts until this gets an adequate explanation."

Boucher said: "The pattern of senseless and brutal attacks by the Government of Sudan against innocent civilians continues. On February 20th, a government helicopter attacked a World Food Program feeding operation in the village of Bieh in Upper Nile Province. The helicopter fired six to eight rockets, killing 17 people and wounding many others."

He added "These attacks raise serious questions about the Sudanese Government's commitment to peace and the lives of its people. We have demanded from the Sudanese Government a full and complete explanation of what happened. In addition, we have asked for an explanation of how one part of the government can negotiate with the United States an agreement to end attacks against civilians, while another part of the government is deliberately targeting civilians. Until we receive a full and complete response from the Government of Sudan, the United States is suspending all discussions with Khartoum about the peace process."


He also said that "Humanitarian assistance will continue because it is not a government question; it's a question of helping needy people."

Boucher said "Senator Danforth will be writing his report to the President shortly. Obviously he will be reflecting these latest actions in his report. From the very beginning, he has been asked to evaluate and judge the commitment of the parties to peace. The attacks raise serious questions about the Government of Sudan's commitment to peace, and it is imperative that the Government of Sudan gives us a response."

Asked that US Peace envoy to Sudan John Danforth said in November he would walk away from this, unless there was fast progress. Boucher replied "we don't see how we can pursue it if these kinds of attacks are going to continue, but we want a full explanation. And then I'm sure Danforth will decide how he wants to proceed, if at all."

Previous Stories:
  US anger against Sudanese bombardment of a southern village   (2/14/2002)
  Sudan's foreign minister in Washington   (2/6/2002)
  Sudan rejects US inspection of one of its ships in the Arab Sea   (1/18/2002)

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