US Embassy Says Non-Vital Staff can Leave Sudan

10/03/2009 | almanartv

The US embassy in Khartoum said on Tuesday it is allowing non-essential staff to leave Sudan and issued a new travel warning over "uncertain security conditions" in Africa's largest country.

The move comes after the Sudanese government ordered the expulsion of a number of aid agencies following the International Criminal Court's decision last week to issue an arrest warrant for President Omar al-Beshir. "The Department of State has authorized the departure of non-emergency personnel and family members at the US embassy in Khartoum until further notice," the embassy said in a statement.

It said recommended US citizens defer all travel to Sudan "due to uncertain security conditions following the expulsion of NGOs as well as harassment of humanitarian aid workers, employees of non-governmental organizations, and Westerners in general."

The United Nations made a fresh appeal to Khartoum on Monday to reverse its decision to expel 13 aid groups from Darfur after Beshir was issued an arrest warrant for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity during the six-year conflict there.