Khartoum asks Cairo for explanations on Mubarak' s statements over al-Shifaa

The Sudanese government intends to officially ask Cairo for explanations of statements made by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in which he said that al-Shifaa medicinal factory, which was destroyed by the US missiles on August 20, could have produced items used in the manufacture of chemical weapons.

Sudanese Information Minister Salaheddine al-Atbani said the Sudanese government expressed regret over the statements, which threaten to undermine efforts made by "reasonable" people in the two countries to improve relations between the two countries.

He added: "The Sudanese government will also ask for explanations for the statements which are in contradiction to the Egyptian official position and the efforts which the Egyptian government said it carries out in support of the Sudanese cause."