The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Khartoum

Sudan has expelled European and Canadian diplomats for "interfering in its affairs," a move that could further strain relations with the West over the conflict in Darfur. The White House reacted to Sudan's announcement on Thursday saying it hoped it was not an atempt to sidetrack international efforts to end the violence in Darfur, which Washington has termed genocidal.

UN chief Ban Ki-moon is expected to travel to Khartoum early next month to thrash out details of the deployment of up to 26,000 peacekeepers to the war-wracked western region.

"Sudan has summoned the envoy of the European Commission and the Canadian charge d'affaires and informed them they were considered persona non grata because they interfered in Sudanese affairs," Sudanese foreign ministry spokesman Ali al-Sadek told the official SUNA news agency. The exact reasons for their expulsion were not immediately clear. "The Sudanese have a history of doing this sort of thing to try and thwart the will of the international community," White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said. "I hope that that would not be the case today with these expulsions, and hope that they are still planning on complying with their obligations to the UN Security Council," Johndroe told reporters.

Canada demanded an explanation from Khartoum.