Khartoum accuses US, Israel of supporting rebels

Sudanese Minister of Information and Culture, Ahmed Bilal Osman, accused Israel and the US on Friday of supporting anti-government rebels in the country. During an interview on Sudanese radio, Osman said the two countries back the separatist movement. He stated that Israel had shown support for South Sudan prior to its secession, highlighting South Sudanese President Salva Kiir’s trip to Israel after the separation to thank Tel Aviv for its backing during the war against the North.  Osman added that the US was also involved in supporting the armed movements. The Sudanese minister denied that the current war in South Kordofan is religious as some Western circles claim. He pointed out that the US Secretary of State, John Kerry, recently made such a statement during his visit to Ethiopia.   Osman called on the West to adopt a fair attitude towards Sudan’s issues, emphasising that the current stance aims to topple not only the regime but Sudan’s territory and people. He also announced that that the government will hold a press conference on Sunday to declare the new policies outlined towards South Sudan’s capital, Juba in its support for rebels movements.   The Sudanese cabinet decided on Thursday to carry out a "broader diplomatic campaign" to brief the international community about the renewed support that South Sudan provides to the rebel groups in Sudan. The Council of ministers was briefed during its weekly meeting by president Omer al-Bashir who chaired the cabinet about the outcome of encounters he had with African leaders during the African summit last month in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Sudan and South Sudan signed an agreement last March to implement a number of agreements signed by al-Bashir and his South Sudanese counterpart Kiir in September. However the two countries continue to accuse each other of supporting rebel groups in their respective countries.