Khartoum criticizes an American report over Darfour

Khartoum yesterday accused one American official of being biased to the Sudanese rebels by publishing a worrying report on the humanitarian situation in Darfour area to the west of the country.

The Sudanese foreign minister Mustafa Othman Ismael told journalists that the assistant director for the American agency for international development, Roger Winter, "is part of those who join the stances of the rebels in Darfour." The Sudanese minister, on the other hand, expressed his regret over Washington's call for those wishing to travel to Sudan to be cautious, stressing that Sudan is one of the world's safest countries. He testified that by noting that the American interests in Sudan were not exposed to attacks or threats.

Winter said last Thursday during a hearing session with one of the branch committees at the house of representatives in Washington that Darfour is witnessing a humanitarian crisis in Africa and may be at the world level.

On march 2nd, the US Department Of State stressed that the situation in this area threatens the life of one million persons and regretted what it called the rejection of the Sudanese authorities permitting access of certain number of humanitarian organizations there.

Washington warned its citizens who travel to east Africa to be cautious concerning their personal security.