Asks UN Security Council to lift sanctions

The UN Security Council will fix a date to discuss an application by Sudan to lift sanctions imposed on the country, reports the official news agency, Suna. The application was sent to the Security Council through the Ministry of External Relations. The official news agency said the Ministry
of External Relations and Sudanese diplomatic missions abroad would "intensify their efforts to boost the movement" and that the step was supported by the Arab, Africa and Non-Aligned Movement groups. These groups, reported the agency, had submitted a written message to the Security Council on Sudan's "positive response to the resolutions of the Security Council." Ethiopia and Egypt had also declared support for
Sudan's application.

Sudan has attempted to repair its relations with neighbouring states and financial creditors, including development banks and the IMF. Recent development grants, restored diplomatic missions in Khartoum - including the US - and a more positive foreign policy has been greeted as a step on the way back to respectability, a regional expert told IRIN. Sudan has
successfully restored normal relations with several Arab development funds, hopes to reach agreement with the Arab Monetary Fund on a schedule to repay its arrears, and expects the IMF to restore its voting rights at the end of August, said the source.

Meanwhile, former first vice-president Major-General Omar Mohammed al-Tayyib returned from exile, reported Sudanese TV on Thursday. He was received by a ministerial delegation. The returning Major General was reported as saying he commended the presidents encouragement to exiles to return, and said he would take part in the country's "peace process and consensus".