Sudan claims rebels are instigating dispute

Sudan's Foreign Ministry spokesman Abu Bakr al-Siddiq has claimed that armed movements that did not sign the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD) are responsible for instigating the conflict in Darfur, adding that the government had adopted serious steps for implementing the peace agreement. In response to remarks made by the United States' ambassador at the United Nations, Susan Rice that Sudan's government has violated cooperation agreements that it has signed with South Sudan, al-Siddiq said that the government continues to call for comprehensive and simultaneous implementation of the agreements, indicating that the decision of the government to stop the crossing of South Sudan oil was based on Juba's support for armed groups. Al-Siddiq said that the Sudanese neighbours now have the opportunity to enhance relations, after both states accepted proposals forwarded by the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel for Sudan (AUHIP). He also welcomed South Sudan's Vice President, Riek Machar's, proposed visit to Khartoum on June 30. The government officials urged the US to drop its "flagrant bias" against Sudan, adding that the American administration should have cancelled its illegal economic and trade sanctions against Sudan, which are impeding development efforts.