Sudan orders top U.N. envoy to leave within 3 days
Source: Reuters
(updates with background) KHARTOUM, Oct 22 (Reuters) - Sudan on Sunday ordered top U.N. envoy Jan Pronk to leave the country within three days following comments he made that the army's morale was low after suffering two major defeats in the violent Darfur region. "He has until mid-noon on Wednesday to leave," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Ali al-Sadig. He added the reason was Pronk's comments on the army. Last week the Sudanese military said Pronk's continued presence in Sudan represented a "military danger to the armed forces". The military statement accused Pronk of undermining the army by "casting doubt on the ability of the Sudanese Armed Forces to protect the Sudanese people and defend the state". Pronk's blog, www.janpronk.nl, had said army morale was low in North Darfur after two defeats at the hands of a new rebel alliance called the National Redemption Front (NRF). The NRF formed after a May peace accord, signed by only one rebel faction and the government. They reject the deal saying they want more political representation and compensation for war victims. The NRF renewed hostilities with the government in June in the Kordofan region neighbouring Darfur. Since then battles, mostly in North Darfur, have continued.
| AlertNet news is provided by |  |
