Sudanese FM discusses in Asmara military confrontation between the government and the opposition

The Sudanese Foreign Ministry has announced that Foreign Minister Mustafa Othman Ismael visited Eritrea on Wednesday to discuss with the officials in Eritrea in the confrontation between the Sudanese opposition and the government's army on the borders between the two countries at the end of the past week.

A source at the ministry said that Ismael's visit concentrated on security problems following the attacks launched by the Sudanese opposition against the government's troops in Kasla province in eastern Sudan. Asmara gives shelter to the Sudanese opposition parties and armed organizations which launched an attack during the weekend vacation.

The ministry added that the talks Ismael holds pertain especially to the implementation of signed agreements between the two countries in order to prevent similar border incidents.

The two neighborly countries resumed their diplomatic relations and signed security agreements in January this year following six years of boycott during which they exchanged accusations over backing opposition sides.

Ismael told journalists in Khartoum on Tuesday evening that the two countries are making contacts after the incidents which took place last Saturday, noting that Presidents Omar al-Bashir and Isaias Afwerki talked on the telephone to this effect.

The Sudanese minister did not directly accuse Eritrea of being involved in the attack launched by the opposition. However, the Sudanese minister indicated that President al-Bashir "thanked the government of Eritrea for its efforts aiming at convincing the Sudanese opposition to agree to sign an agreement with the authorities in Khartoum."