Nine stories (updated to add the one from the AP):
(See also, most recently, yesterday's pair of items; the "Embassy" story here is actually from before the announcement, and is more of an overview story. - EJM)
Canada is expelling a Sudanese diplomat in a tit-for-tat move, after Khartoum threw out Ottawa's charge d'affaires, Foreign Minister Maxime Bernier said [on] Wednesday.
“Canada considers the expulsion of our charge d'affaires to be entirely unjustified,” Mr. Bernier said in a statement.
“Wherever they are posted, Canada's diplomats will continue to work to uphold Canadian values of freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law,” he said.
The decision will take effect [on] September 1 and has been conveyed to Sudan's ambassador, the Canadian foreign ministry said in the statement, which does not name the diplomat.
A week ago, Sudan announced the expulsion of Canadian charge d'affaires Nuala Lawlor and the European Commission's representative for “interfering” in the country's affairs due to unacceptable contacts with opposition leaders.
Ms. [Lawlor] was told to leave Khartoum [on] Sunday. Ms. [Lawlor] had written a letter to the National Intelligence and Security Service, seeking the release of opposition politicians who had been jailed in an alleged coup attempt.
Sudan said [that] the foreign diplomats were interfering in its internal affairs by addressing the security service directly, rather than going through diplomatic channels.
But Mr. Bernier rejected that claim, saying [that] Ms. Lawlor “was acting in the finest traditions of Canadian diplomacy, and was standing up for our values of freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law in Sudan.”
Western governments and non-governmental agencies say [that] the Sudanese government is clamping down on opposition parties and [is] trying to stall efforts to hold elections in 2009.
The North African country has been racked by civil war, both in the south, where a shaky ceasefire is in effect, and in the Darfur region, where the government has been accused of an janjaweed militia campaign of genocide against local agrarian tribes.
Faced with the United Nations decision to deploy peacekeeping troops to Darfur over its objections, Khartoum has sought to portray itself as a victim of Western interventionism to Arab and Muslim audiences around the world.
On Saturday, Sudanese officials invited the European envoy, Kent Degerfelt of Sweden, back after Louis Michel, the European development commissioner, had purportedly apologized to Sudanese President Omar al-Beshir over the actions of the European envoy.
Mr. Benier has said that Canada had no intention of apologizing.
From the CP...
Canada is expelling a Sudanese diplomat in retaliation for Sudan's expulsion of a senior Canadian envoy last week.
The Foreign Affairs Department has not yet identified the diplomat, who is to be out as of Saturday.
Officials have said [that] the departing diplomat would be similar in rank to Nuala Lawlor, the Canadian charge d'affaires who left Sudan last Sunday.
Lawlor had allegedly been seeking the release of an imprisoned opposition leader, and Sudan accused her of meddling in its internal affairs.
Kent Degerfelt, the European Union's top diplomat in Sudan, was also ordered out last week, but Khartoum eventually relented and said [that] Degerfelt could complete the three weeks left in his mandate.
The Canadian government has flatly refused to apologize for Lawlor, and called her expulsion unwarranted. Rebel groups there began fighting the Khartoum government in 2003, and since then, tens of thousands have died and an estimated 2.5 million have been driven from their homes since 2003.
Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Bernier, in a statement issued last week, said [that] Lawlor "was acting in the finest traditions of Canadian diplomacy, and was standing up for our values."
He reiterated that position in the Wednesday announcement of the retaliatory expulsion.
"Canada considers the expulsion of our charge d'affaires to be entirely unjustified," he said in a statement.
"Wherever they are posted, Canada's diplomats will continue to work to uphold Canadian values of freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law."
Canada has already cut off bilateral aid to the Sudanese government, and ensures that its aid money flows through the African Union's mission in that country.
Since 2004, Canada has committed about [Can]$440 million toward humanitarian projects, peacebuilding and reconstruction efforts and support for the African Union Mission in Sudan.
Sudan has been under mounting international criticism over violence in the Darfur region in the west of the country.
The Khartoum government is accused of arming and supporting the janjaweed militia in the area. These armed bands are blamed for savage atrocities against civilians.
An African Union peacekeeping force of about 6,000 -- which was initially set up with a couple of hundred soldiers in 2004 -- has been unable to enforce peace efforts. It is poorly armed and supplied.
The Sudanese government has agreed to allow a UN-African Union hybrid force of about 26,000 peacekeepers to replace this beleaguered force by the end of the year.
From CanWest...
Canada furthered its hard line in a diplomatic squabble with Sudan on Wednesday, and announced [that] it is expelling a diplomat from that country's embassy in Ottawa.
The move is in direct retaliation to the recent "unwarranted" expulsion of Canada's top diplomat from the African country.
"Canada considers the expulsion of our charge d'affaires to be entirely unjustified. Wherever they are posted, Canada's diplomats will continue to work to uphold Canadian values of freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law," Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Bernier said in a statement.
It is not clear whether it is Sudan's ambassador, Faiza Hassan Taha, who is being turfed or another envoy. There are four other diplomats listed on the Sudanese Embassy's website, along with several administrative staff.
No one could be reached at the Sudanese Embassy, and Canada's Foreign Affairs Department did not return phone calls [on] Wednesday afternoon.
Canada's decision to expel the Sudanese diplomat is effective [on] Saturday and has been conveyed to Sudan's ambassador, the minister's statement said.
Opposition Leader Stephane Dion supported the government's decision to remove the envoy, calling it the "right move."
"We need to be sure [that] our diplomats will be respected around the world. And we need to speak with Khartoum in a very, very frank way, because what's happening in Darfur is a matter of concern, to say the least," the Liberal leader told reporters at a news conference in St. John's, N.L.
The move turns up the heat on a dispute that began simmering last week when Canada's acting charge d'affaires in Khartoum, Nuala Lawlor, was declared persona non grata and asked to leave Sudan.
The reason for her expulsion was not made clear by the Sudanese government, although there are reports [that] it was because she meddled in the country's internal affairs and supported the release of two opposition leaders who were recently arrested over an alleged coup attempt. Foreign Affairs has not confirmed the reports.
The envoy of the European Commission, Kent Degerfelt of Sweden, was asked to leave at the same time as Lawlor, but was then permitted to stay after the commission issued an apology to Sudanese President Omar al-Beshir. On a French radio station over the weekend, a high-level member of the European Commission said [that] Degerfelt had been expelled for a mistake in protocol - for failing to go through the presidency or the Foreign Ministry before expressing concerns about the human-rights situation in Sudan, Agence France-Presse reported.
In contrast to the European Commission, Canada defended its diplomat and refused to issue an apology. Bernier instructed Lawlor to leave Khartoum on Sunday.
Canada is among the countries that have expressed concerns about human-rights abuses in Sudan, and the government's actions in the war-torn region of Darfur. Since 2003, fighting between rebel and militia groups has killed more than 200,000 people in the region, and left more than two million homeless.
From AFP...
CANADA has decided to expel a Sudanese diplomat in a tit-for-tat move, after Khartoum threw out Ottawa's charge d'affaires, Foreign Minister Maxime Bernier said overnight [Australian time].
"Canada considers the expulsion of our charge d'affaires to be entirely unjustified," Mr Bernier said.
"Wherever they are posted, Canada's diplomats will continue to work to uphold Canadian values of freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law," he said.
The decision will take effect [on] September 1, and has been conveyed to Sudan's ambassador, the Canadian foreign ministry said, without namimg the diplomat.
Sudan announced on August 23 the expulsion of Canadian charge d'affaires Nuala Lawlor and the European Commission's representative for "interfering" in the country's affairs due to unacceptable contacts with opposition leaders.
Ms Lawlow was instructed to leave Khartoum on Monday [Australian time], Mr Bernier said that day.
On Sunday, Sudanese officials invited the European envoy, Kent Degerfelt of Sweden, back.
Khartoum alleged [that] Louis Michel, the European development commissioner, had apologised to Sudanese President Omar al-Beshir over the actions of the European envoy.
Mr Benier said on Monday that Canada had no intention of apologising.
From the CBC...
The Canadian government says [that] it is expelling a Sudanese diplomat, a week after Sudan forced out a Canadian official.
The Sudanese diplomat must leave Canada by Saturday, the Department of Foreign Affairs announced [on] Wednesday.
The diplomat has not been named.
Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Bernier said [that] the decision is a direct response to Sudan's decision last week to expel Nuala Lawlor, a Canadian chargé d'affaires, and her European Union counterpart.
"Canada considers the expulsion of our chargé d’affaires to be entirely unjustified," Bernier said in a news release.
"Wherever they are posted, Canada’s diplomats will continue to work to uphold Canadian values of freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law."
The Sudanese government gave no specific reason for expelling Lawlor on Aug. 22 and giving her 72 hours to get out of the country. However, Sudan's official news agency reported that government officials believed [that] Lawlor had been meddling in Sudan's internal affairs.
The Canadian Embassy in Sudan, along with the European Union, did question the detention of a group of political opposition members detained without charges in July, which may have angered the Sudanese government.
The Canadian government has defended Lawlor's work. She was the sole Canadian diplomat in Sudan, as the Canadian Embassy was going through a personnel shift and a new chargé d'affaires wasn't set to arrive until next month.
"In our view, she was standing up for human rights and the rule of law in Sudan, in the finest tradition of Canadian diplomacy," Rodney Moore, a spokesman for Foreign Affairs, said last week.
Many Western countries have been critical of the government's role in the war-torn Darfur region, where at least 200,000 people have been killed and about 2.5 million people have fled their homes in four years.
Violence erupted in 2003 when rebels took up arms against the Arab-dominated central government, accusing it of discrimination. The government, based in the capital city of Khartoum, is accused of retaliating by unleashing militias, which are blamed for atrocities against civilians.
From Reuters...
Canada will expel a Sudanese diplomat in response to Khartoum's decision last week to kick out the Canadian charge d'affaires, Ottawa said on Wednesday.
Nuala Lawlor and the European Union's ambassador were ordered out for allegedly interfering in Sudan's internal affairs. Khartoum said [that] the diplomats had sent letters to the heads of Sudan's security and intelligence services about the detention of a prominent opposition politician.
"Canada considers the expulsion of our charge d'affaires to be entirely unjustified," Foreign Minister Maxime Bernier said in a statement.
"Wherever they are posted, Canada's diplomats will continue to work to uphold Canadian values of freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law," he added. The Sudanese diplomat will be expelled this Saturday.
Khartoum later backed down and allowed the EU ambassador to stay until his tenure runs out next month after the union apologized. Bernier said earlier this week [that] he would not follow suit.
Sudan has regularly been criticized for its counter-insurgency campaign in the western Darfur region. Canada is a major donor of aid to Sudan.
From CTV...
Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Bernier has announced that a high-ranking envoy at the Sudanese embassy in Ottawa will be turfed from the country, in a retaliatory move that is expected to turn up the heat on a simmering diplomatic dispute.
Bernier says [that] Canada has decided to expel the diplomat in response to the Sudanese government's expulsion of Canada's chargé d'affaires, Nuala Lawlor.
"Canada considers the expulsion of our chargé d'affaires to be entirely unjustified. Wherever they are posted, Canada's diplomats will continue to work to uphold Canadian values of freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law," Bernier said in a statement.
Sudan's ambassador in Ottawa has been notified of the decision, which will take effect on September 1.
Earlier this month, the Sudanese government announced that it would be expelling Lawlor and [the] EU's diplomat Kent Degerfelt for "meddling in its affairs."
Lawlor and Degerfelt had allegedly been seeking the release of opposition politicians who had been imprisoned over an alleged coup attempt.
At the time, the Sudanese government asserted that the expulsion order should not hinder relations between Sudan and the EU or Canada.
Earlier this week, Bernier said [that] he spoke to Sudanese Foreign Minister Lam Akol in protest of Lawlor's expulsion and conveyed "Canada's strong concern about Sudan's decision to expel Canada's charge d'affaires."
But Bernier's efforts were to no avail, he said.
As a result, Bernier has directed Lawlor to leave Sudan.
Canada has already cut off bilateral aid to the Sudanese government, and ensures that its aid money flows through the African Union's mission in that country.
From the AP...
A Sudanese diplomat will be expelled from Canada within days, in response to Sudan's decision to kick out Canada's charge d'affaires, the Foreign Ministry said [on] Wednesday.
The Foreign Affairs Department said [that] the Sudanese diplomat, who has yet to be identified, will be ordered to leave the country by Saturday. Ministry officials said [that] the diplomat would hold a similar rank to Canadian acting charge d'affaires Nuala Lawlor, who the Sudanese government ordered expelled last Thursday after accusing [her] of ``meddling in its affairs.''
``Canada considers the expulsion of our charge d'affaires to be entirely unjustified,'' Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Bernier said in a statement.
Along with Lawlor, Sudan said [that] it was expelling the European Union's top diplomat in the country for ``meddling'' in its affairs. But the government later said [that] it would allow Kent Degerfelt to complete the remaining three weeks of his mandate, as long as he was replaced by someone new.
On Monday, Sudan also ordered out the head of CARE International's operations in the country. No reason was given for the official's expulsion, but the group had been directing one of the largest private aid efforts in Darfur.
Sudan has faced mounting criticism in the face of violence in Darfur, where 200,000 people have died since 2003 in fighting that began when ethnic African rebels took up arms against the Arab-dominated government, accusing it of discrimination.
The government is accused of unleashing the janjaweed militia in response - a force allegedly behind some of the worst atrocities against civilians in the region.
Stung by criticism, Sudan has taken a hard line against what it says is interference in its internal affairs by outsiders.
Canada's new envoy to Sudan was introduced during a memorial celebration in Ottawa over the weekend, just two days after Canada's chargé d'affairs and her European Union counterpart were expelled from the East African country.
Sam Hanson was introduced as the new Canadian chargé d'affaires to Khartoum during an event at St. Paul University on Saturday that was held to mark the second anniversary of the death of former Sudan rebel leader John Garang.
During the ceremony, Mr. Hanson was introduced to the crowd as the new chargé d'affaires, and the crowd applauded when he stood to acknowledge the welcome. Mr. Hanson is expected in the Sudanese capital by Sept. 19.
The Department of Foreign Affairs did not return repeated calls to confirm Mr. Hanson's appointment.
Last week, the Sudanese government expelled Nuala Lawlor, the Canadian chargé d'affaires in Khartoum, together with European Union envoy Kent Degerfelt for allegedly interfering in the internal affairs of Sudan.
Sudan Tribune, an online news source, quoted Ali Karti, a minister of state in Sudan's ministry of foreign affairs, as saying [that] both diplomats were expelled for seeking the release of prominent opposition leader Mahmoud Hassanein, who has been detained for allegedly plotting a coup. The London-based Arabic daily Al Hayat also quoted unnamed sources saying [that] the expulsions were a result of both diplomats' association with rebels from Darfur, opposition figures, and NGOs considered to be supporting dissidents in Khartoum.
Newly appointed Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Bernier issued a strong statement this week calling Ms. Lawlor's expulsion unjustified, adding that Canada will not apologize.
"The diplomat was acting in the finest traditions of Canadian diplomacy and was standing up for our values of freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law in Sudan," Mr. Bernier said.
However, Faiza Hassan Taha, Sudan's ambassador to Canada, said [that] the expulsion of the diplomats had nothing to do with their meeting with opposition leaders in Sudan.
"This is a normal practice that some opposition leaders have good relations with foreign diplomats in Sudan," said Ms. Taha in a statement.
"The real cause has been stated clearly, that the two diplomats ignored the diplomatic protocol in conveying their messages to the director of national intelligence and security services. These kinds of mistakes will not be accepted in any country, even in Canada."
CARE Director Also Expelled
Despite last week's expulsion of Canada's top diplomat from Sudan, the Canadian International Development Agency has confirmed that Canadian aid to the North African country will continue. In the last two years, Canada has provided nearly [Can]$85 million for food and non-food humanitarian assistance to Sudan through non-governmental organizations, which include the United Nations, the Red Cross, and Canadian NGOs.
"Our humanitarian partners work independently of the Canadian diplomatic presence on the ground in Sudan. It is not expected that this action by the government of Sudan will affect Canada's humanitarian assistance to populations in need throughout Sudan," said Greg Scott, chief of media relations for CIDA.
On Monday, Sudan expelled Paul Barker, country director of the aid organization CARE, giving him 72 hours to leave the country.
[David] Kilgour said [that] the only country with any influence in Sudan is China, and if the international community wants to help displaced people in Sudan, pressure must be applied on Beijing.
But even as Canada commits to providing humanitarian aid, it seems [that] it will continue normal diplomatic ties with Sudan as well.
[Mr.] Kilgour, a former secretary of state for Latin America and Africa during Jean Chrétien's time as prime minister, said [that] despite the aura of normal diplomatic relations with Sudan, Canada has not had any influence with Khartoum since Sudanese President Omar El-Bashir came to power through a military coup in 1989. While criticizing the expulsion of the Canadian diplomat, Mr. Kilgour said [that] severing relations with Sudan would not be in the best interest of the needy, who depend on Canadian aid.
"On one hand, it is tempting to say yes [to cutting off ties], but the advantage of having someone on the ground is better than getting second-hand information," said Mr. Kilgour, adding that he doesn't foresee an end to the expulsion of Western diplomats.
"Khartoum does not care one hoot about the people in the [internally displaced persons] camps. If they can expel the head of CARE International, no one is immune," said Mr. Kilgour.
The expulsion of diplomats and aid workers from Sudan will have a negative impact on the numerous NGOs in the country, and will also affect the delivery of humanitarian assistance, said Justin Laku, founder of the Ottawa-based organization Canadian Friends of Sudan.
"Aid workers will have security problems, and they will not get the protection [that] they need, and harassment by Sudanese officials will increase," he said.
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