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Sudan to 'expel all aid groups' | Sudan to 'expel all aid groups' |
(20 minutes later) | |
Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir says he wants all international aid groups out of the country within a year. | Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir says he wants all international aid groups out of the country within a year. |
Foreign organisations could drop relief supplies at airports and let Sudanese organisations take care of it, the president told a military rally. | Foreign organisations could drop relief supplies at airports and let Sudanese organisations take care of it, the president told a military rally. |
Sudan has already expelled 13 large foreign agencies, mostly from Darfur. | Sudan has already expelled 13 large foreign agencies, mostly from Darfur. |
Mr Bashir accuses them of spying for the International Criminal Court, which has issued an arrest warrant against him for alleged war crimes in Darfur. | Mr Bashir accuses them of spying for the International Criminal Court, which has issued an arrest warrant against him for alleged war crimes in Darfur. |
He also shut down three local aid groups, including one of the largest Sudanese groups operating in Darfur. | He also shut down three local aid groups, including one of the largest Sudanese groups operating in Darfur. |
If they want to bring relief, let them drop it at airports or seaports President Omar al-Bashir | If they want to bring relief, let them drop it at airports or seaports President Omar al-Bashir |
The United Nations said the expulsions had left millions at risk of a humanitarian crisis. | |
Speaking to a rally of security forces in the capital, Khartoum, the president said all foreign relief groups should go. | Speaking to a rally of security forces in the capital, Khartoum, the president said all foreign relief groups should go. |
"We directed the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs to Sudanise voluntary work," he told a crowd of thousands of supporters. | "We directed the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs to Sudanise voluntary work," he told a crowd of thousands of supporters. |
"Within a year, we don't want to see any foreign aid group dealing with a Sudanese citizen. | "Within a year, we don't want to see any foreign aid group dealing with a Sudanese citizen. |
"If they want to bring relief, let them drop it at airports or seaports. Let the national organisations deal with our citizens," Mr Bashir said. | "If they want to bring relief, let them drop it at airports or seaports. Let the national organisations deal with our citizens," Mr Bashir said. |
The move could affect the work of more than 70 organisations operating in Darfur and other strife-torn areas. | The move could affect the work of more than 70 organisations operating in Darfur and other strife-torn areas. |
Later, State Minister for Humanitarian Affairs Ahmed Haroun said that the order would not affect UN agencies. | |
Mr Bashir did not specify how the order would be carried out, or if it would affect aid programmes in the semi-autonomous south. | |
The earlier expulsion of 13 aid agencies, including Oxfam, Save the Children and two branches of Medecins Sans Frontieres, only affected operations in the north. | The earlier expulsion of 13 aid agencies, including Oxfam, Save the Children and two branches of Medecins Sans Frontieres, only affected operations in the north. |
The Hague-based International Criminal Court seeking Mr Bashir's arrest accuses him of orchestrating atrocities against civilians in Darfur, where his Arab-led government has been battling black African rebels since 2003. | The Hague-based International Criminal Court seeking Mr Bashir's arrest accuses him of orchestrating atrocities against civilians in Darfur, where his Arab-led government has been battling black African rebels since 2003. |
Up to 300,000 people have been killed and 2.7 million have been driven from their homes. | Up to 300,000 people have been killed and 2.7 million have been driven from their homes. |
Sudan denies the charges and says the figures are exaggerated. | Sudan denies the charges and says the figures are exaggerated. |