Sudan expels Canadian, EU diplomats

KHARTOUM, Sudan -- Sudan expelled the top Canadian and European Union diplomats from the country Thursday for what was described as "meddling in its affairs," state media reported.

It was not immediately clear why the two were expelled, but many Western countries have been critical of the Sudanese government's role in atrocities committed in its Darfur region.

The two were summoned separately to the Foreign Ministry and were handed their expulsion notes, the official SUNA news agency reported, citing Foreign Ministry spokesman Ali Al Sadeq.

They were "involved in activities that constitute an intervention into the internal affairs of the Sudan, a matter that contradict their diplomatic duties and mission," the spokesman said.

The Foreign Ministry did not identify the diplomats, but its diplomatic records listed Kent Degerfelt as the head of mission for the European Union. The Canadian government said acting charge d'affaires Nuala Lawlor was expelled.

The Sudanese Foreign Ministry spokesman also said the Foreign Ministry told the diplomats that "Sudan is keen to maintain the relation of cooperation linking it with the European Commission and with Canada."

"This incident should not hamper the relations between the Sudan and both the EC and Canada," Sadeq said.

In Canada, Foreign Affairs spokesman Rodney Moore said Lawlor had been filling in for charge d'affaires Alan Bones, who has been out of Sudan for several months.

"We've asked Sudanese authorities why they have expelled her," said Moore. Lawlor "was standing up for our values of freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law in Sudan. So we are awaiting to get a response."

In Brussels, EU spokesman Antonia Mochan said the commission "received a letter relating to the position of the head of delegation and we're trying to resolve the issue."

The Canadian Embassy and the European Commission office in Sudan did not immediately respond to phone calls by The Associated Press. The European Commission is the EU's executive branch.

More than 200,000 people have died in Sudan's embattled Darfur region since ethnic African rebels took up arms against the Arab-dominated central government in 2003, accusing it of discrimination.

Khartoum is accused of retaliating by unleashing janjaweed militias, which are blamed for the worst atrocities against civilians in a conflict that has displaced more than 2.5 million people.