CAR wants to use Sudanese port

Sudanese President Omar al Bashir said on Saturday that relations between his country and the CAR had “greatly improved” during Patasse’s first term in office and there were “now many links developing every day”, Sudanese television reported. Bashir, one of four heads of state who attended Patasse’s inauguration ceremony in Bangui, said funding was being sought for the road between the western Sudanese town of Nyala and Bangui, as well as for a rail line connecting the two countries, because the CAR wanted to use Port Sudan for its exports and imports, the television reported. Sudan Airways had initiated regular flights to Bangui for the first time, Bashir added. The presidents of Chad, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea also attended the inauguration ceremony for Patasse, who was elected last month with about 51.6 percent of the votes.