Government responds to US criticism

The government of Sudan has responded to criticism by United States President George W. Bush, who recently described Sudan a disaster area for human rights, the BBC reported on 6 May. Sudanese Foreign Minister Mustafa Uthman Isma'il was quoted as saying Bush's remarks would not lead to peace in Sudan, but would exacerbate relations with Washington. Information Minister Ghazi Salah al-Din al-Atabani accused the US of prolonging Sudan's civil war by backing southern rebels against Khartoum, the BBC said.

On 29 April, Ghazi had expressed satisfaction at the approach of the new US administration to Sudan, saying it was more positive than that of its predecessor. US Secretary of State Colin Powell on 26 April had told the House of Representatives' Commerce, Justice, State and Judiciary Committee that the Bush administration had "developed a road map on how to approach the authorities in Sudan".

In a speech last week, President Bush said the Khartoum government had been abusing religious freedoms, and had denied food aid to those unwilling to convert to Islam. The US has also repeatedly accused the Sudanese government of harbouring terrorist groups, a charge Sudan has consistently denied.