Rice to Sudan following tense beginning in al-Khartoum
Sudan-USA, Politics, 7/22/2005

The first visit by the US secretary of state to Sudan witnessed a tense start caused by the mistreatment of the Sudanese security to journalists and correspondents accompanying Condaleezza Rice during her meeting with the Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir.

In statements on board of her plane prior to leaving Khartoum to Darfur, Rice expressed anger over the behavior of the Sudanese security, adding that she wants an apology from the Sudanese president.

Sudanese security officials pushed American journalists aside to keep them away from Rice's meeting with Bashir, and closed the doors of his palace to them before they returned back and permitted officials accompanying her to enter.

Rice's chief advisor Jim Wilkinson said he was pushed towards a wall at the entrance of Bashir's headquarters before he could enter following Rice's personal assistant.

Immediately upon her arrival in Khartoum, Rice called on Sudan and its neighbors to quickly end confrontation in Darfur, describing these confrontations as acts of extermination.

Rice added she expects more crucial moves to end the fighting in Darfur. She said that the Sudanese government has helped events with a good start, but that "we will not be satisfied with words. We want action."

Previous Stories:
  Moussa tackles with Merghani latest developments in Sudan   (7/21/2005)
  Sudanese official praises Mubarak's role in achieving stability in Sudan   (7/21/2005)
  Turabi and Garang discuss cooperation   (7/21/2005)
  US support to Sudan reconciliation   (7/11/2005)
  North-south accord key to peace in Sudan, Zoellick says   (4/18/2005)
  Zoellick meets with Garang, visits Darfur   (4/16/2005)

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