US official puts pressure on Khartoum
Sudan, Politics, 7/28/1997

An American diplomat left Sudan on July 27 after meeting top officials in a visit the Sudanese government described as an attempt to improve relations.

The United States has repeatedly accused Sudan's Islamic government of providing shelter and training to Islamic radicals who are hostile to neighboring countries like Egypt.

Sudan is on a list of countries designated by the United States as sponsors of terrorism.

The country, the largest in Africa, is also under UN diplomatic sanctions for its failure to turn over three suspects in the June 1995 attempt to assassinate Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Sudan has said the men are longer in the country.

Gary Smith, a deputy assistant secretary of state, arrived on July 25 in Khartoum, where he held talks with Sudanese President Omar Al Bashir, Foreign Minister Ali Osman Taha and Hassan Turabi, the parliament speaker and real power in Sudan.

The US embassy said Smith looked into "important human rights issues such as rule of the law, freedom of religion, allegations of slavery, the peace process and democracy."

He was the highest-ranking US official to come to Sudan since Madeleine Albright visited as US ambassador in 1993.

Khidir Haroun, who is head of American affairs at Sudan's foreign ministry, said that the visit was part of a "balanced and constructive dialogue" which was intended to improve relations between the two countries.

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