Britain withdraws its ambassador from Sudan, warns Brits to leave

Britain on Thursday decided to withdraw its ambassador from Sudan and recommended British residents in Sudan to leave.

In a press conference he held Thursday, British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook said, "We have to withdraw all staff of our embassy in Khartoum temporarily."

Cook also warned British travelers to avoid Sudan due to "The singling out of Britain for criticism by the Government of Sudan, and our (Britain's) inability now to provide consular protection."

Cook said the Sudanese request to just withdraw the ambassador and his deputy made it impossible for Britain to keep the embassy "fully operational."

Earlier this week, Sudan withdrew its ambassador from London and asked Britain to withdraw its ambassador in objection to Britain's support for the US military strikes against a pharmaceutical factory near Khartoum.