Sudan receives a U.S envoy today

Harry Johnston, the special US envoy for Sudan, is starting today a visit to Khartoum which is the first by a high-ranking official in the US administration in nearly four years.

US diplomatic sources believe that Khartoum's acceptance of the visit is considered a change in its position since the appointment of this special envoy in August 1999.

A statement issued by the Sudanese embassy in Nairobi said yesterday that it refuses attempts to raising south Sudan's problem in the UN Security Council, adding that Sudan adheres to the Libyan - Egyptian and IGAD peace initiatives.