Sudan's FM accuses U.S. of obstructing efforts to resolve Darfur problem

Sudanese Foreign Minister Lam Akol accused on Wednesday the United States of obstructing efforts of the international community to resolve the crisis in the western Sudanese region of Darfur.

Lam Akol made the remarks as receiving a delegation of the Sudanese Journalists General Union, which handed over to the Sudanese foreign ministry a memorandum denouncing a recent U.S. decision of expanding sanctions against Sudan.

"The U.S. took the decision on the sanctions to create confusion that obstructs the efforts of the international community for finding peaceful solution for the Darfur problem," Lam Akol said, adding that the U.S. decision was backed only by Britain.

The Sudanese top diplomat noted that the entire international community shared identical view with Sudan on the necessity of realizing a peaceful resolution of the Darfur problem.

Last week, U.S. President George W. Bush announced new sanction measures to be taken by his administration against some 30 Sudanese companies and three individuals, who were accused of being involved in the Darfur violence.

The newly sanctioned companies join 132 other Sudanese firms already banned from doing business with any U.S. company or bank.

Meanwhile, the delegation also urged the U.S. administration to release Sami Al Haj, a Sudanese journalist detained in the U.S. military base of Guantanamo in Cuba.

Regarding this matter, Lam Akol said that the Sudanese Foreign Ministry was always requesting the U.S. administration to define the charges of the Sudanese detainees or to release them.

Source: Xinhua