Oil excavations in Sudan

The Sudanese ministry of energy have started negotiations with Russian and Japanese companies for oil exploration in various areas of Sudan, especially in the northern areas and the red sea.

The secretary general of the ministry of energy Hassan al-Toum told the Sudanese daily al-Anbaa that the Japanese companies are negotiating to work in two areas in the northern provinces.

Al-Toum indicated that work in the " Upper Nile" area started also by the Gulf group, and the Chinese and the UAE groups.

On another development, the Sudanese security authorities on Saturday released the leading figure at the people's congress party Muhammad al-Hassan al-Ameen which is led by Hassan al-Turabi.

Al-Ameen was jailed because he had signed an understanding agreement in the name of his party with the rebellion movement in southern Sudan, led by John Garang.

Meantime, well-informed diplomatic sources stressed in a statement issued by the Sudanese daily al-Sahafi al-Dawli issued on Sunday that the issue of lifting the sanctions from Sudan, which was due to be listed on the agenda of works of the UN security council on April 17.

The sources explained that the postponement was made by an understanding between the new US administration and the Sudanese government with the aim to give more time for the administration of the US President which still studies its policy towards Sudan.