Asmara says Arab League resolution "unnecessary"

The Eritrean foreign ministry said on Tuesday that a resolution adopted by the Arab League warning Eritrea against interfering in Sudan's internal affairs was "unnecessary", and did not reflect Eritrea's positive contributions towards the Sudanese peace process, according to Eritrean state radio.

On Sunday, the Arab foreign ministers called on Eritrea not to interfere in the internal affairs of Sudan and expressed concern over US policy towards Khartoum. In the resolution, the council of the Arab League asked Eritrea to "respect the sovereignty and security of Sudanese territory and regional security". All the ministers of the 22 member-states signed the resolution.

Relations between Eritrea and Sudan deteriorated swiftly after the Sudanese government accused Eritrea of being behind a major offensive in Kassala State in northeastern Sudan in early October, in the course of which rebels of the Sudan People's Liberation Army took several key towns and a number of government garrisons.

The Eritrean government has repeatedly denied backing rebels in Sudan embroiled in the 19-year civil war, and several Arab journalists who visited Kassala shortly after the rebel offensive reported no evidence of an Eritrean presence in the region. Last week, the Sudanese government said Eritrean troops were no longer present there.

On Monday, Sudanese Foreign Minister Mustafa Uthman Isma'il ruled out the possibility of Egyptian mediation between his country and Eritrea to calm down the war of words. The Egyptian government had extended the offer in anticipation of a visit by Eritrean President Isayas Afewerki, who arrived in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, on Tuesday for three-days of high-level talks with Egyptian President Husni Mubarak.

Talks between Afewerki and Mubarak will focus on conflicts in the region, especially those in Sudan and Somalia.