Christian Solidarity International loses consultative status

The United Nations Economic and Social Council revoked yesterday the consultative status of Christian Solidarity International, in response to a complaint filed by Sudan against the group after the group allowed the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Army leader John Garang, who Sudan considers to be a terrorist, to represent it to the UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva during March.

The US had proposed a three-year suspension of the group's consultative status as an alternative to the revocation.

The Sudanese government and Christian Solidarity International have been at odds over allegations of slavery and the group's practice of purchasing the freedom of Sudanese citizens who it says have been taken into slavery.