The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, London

Sudanese President Omar al-Beshir blamed Britain, France and the United States for "the problems in Sudan in general", particularly in Darfur, in an interview published Thursday. Speaking to The Guardian from Khartoum, Beshir also called on the British government to issue a public apology for undermining recent talks in Libya on the humanitarian crisis in the western Sudanese region of Darfur by threatening sanctions against the government if the talks failed. Beshir told the newspaper that in his eyes, "Britain, the United States and France, throughout, they adopted all the resolutions to punish the government of Sudan in the international arena and institutions." "What we suffer here and in Darfur in particular and the problems in Sudan in general are caused by these three powers, Britain, France and the United States." He said that if the peace talks in Sirte, Libya, failed, "it will be the responsibility of the external interventions, particularly from Britain, France and the United States."

Beshir also criticised comments made by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown on the weekend threatening sanctions against the Sudanese government if the Sirte talks failed to make progress, which the British government have since amended.