News Article by XINHUA posted on May 13, 2008 at 10:11:26: EST (-5 GMT)
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Sudan expels Chadian diplomats KHARTOUM, May 13 (Xinhua) -- The Sudanese government announced on Tuesday a decision to expel all Chadian diplomats two days after Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir severed diplomatic ties with Chad, alleging Chad'd involvement in attacks by rebels on Khartoum. The official SUNA news agency reported that the Sudanese Foreign Ministry summoned the charge d'affaires in the Chadian Embassy in Khartoum and informed him the decision. "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs asked the Chadian charge d'affaires and all the staff members of the Chadian embassy to leave the country within one week as of Tuesday," SUNA said. The foreign ministry expressed its readiness to provide all the facilitation for the Chadian diplomats to help them discharge their works in Sudan, asking the Chadian side to do the same for the Sudanese Embassy in Chad, the report added. Al-Bashir announced on Sunday a severance of diplomatic ties with Chad, holding the latter responsible for an attack launched by Darfur rebels on the Sudanese capital Khartoum on Saturday. "Sudan holds Chad responsible for what had happened and reserve the right for responding," the Sudanese president said in an address to the people. But the Chadian government has denied any involvement in Saturday's attack. Khartoum also has lodged a protest against Chad to the African Union Peace and Security Council, and will lodge another one to the United Nations Security Council. |