Sudan denies involvement in assassination attempt against President Mubarak

Sudanese Foreign Minister Mustafa Othman Ismael has denied reports that his country sheltered or cooperated with the three men who are accused of the assassination attempt against Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Addis Ababa in 1995.

Ismael stressed that, "Sudan will not allow any side to exploit its decision permitting the Arabs to get into Sudan without an entry visa," noting that this decision "aims in the first place to attract Arab investors and encourage them to invest in Sudan."

In a statement to the Ethiopian independent daily "Reporter" that "certain elements have exploited this decision to carry out their illegal activities in Sudan, a matter which provoked the Sudanese government to cancel this decision (of no entry visa to Sudan)."

The Sudanese minister, on the other hand, indicated an improvement in Sudanese-Ethiopian relations and their return to normalcy. He added that resuming flights between Khartoum and Addis Ababa is but an important indication to open a new page between the two countries.

On the eruption of border disputes between Addis Ababa and Asmara, the Sudanese foreign minister said that "hidden" reasons rather then economic or border problems are responsible. He added that Sudan is the country that has been damaged the most as a result of the border disputes between the two countries. He noted in this context that Sudan hosts thousands of refugees from Eritrea and Ethiopia, noting that this number will increase if war erupts between the two sides.

Ismael appealed the two countries to settle the crisis by peaceful means.