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Chad closes border with Sudan, a day after Sudan cuts diplomatic ties |
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Written by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
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Monday, 12 May 2008 |
N'DJAMENA, Chad - A government minister says Chad has closed its border with Sudan and is halting bilateral trade.
The move comes a day after Sudan severed diplomatic ties with Chad. Chad's communications minister says the decision was made at a cabinet meeting chaired by the president.
All economic ties with Sudan are being cut.
That includes freezing the assets of a Sudanese bank in Chad and stopping all trade between the two countries.
The broadcast and sale of Sudanese music is also being banned.
The decision comes a day after Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir severed diplomatic ties with Chad following a Saturday rebel attack near the Sudanese capital of Khartoum.
Al-Bashir says Chad supported the attack.
The measures Chad took Monday go beyond any the central African country has taken against Sudan since it severed diplomatic ties in April 2006 following a failed rebel attack on the Chadian capital, N'Djamena.
Diplomatic efforts by Libya and other countries saw the two restore relations in August that year.
"After Sudan unilaterally broke ties, the Chadian government has a right to take all measures necessary to ensure the security of its territory and its citizens, protect its economic and cultural interests to avoid any surprise," Mahamat Hissene, the communications minister, said Monday.
On Saturday, the Justice and Equality Movement rebel group launched an unprecedented attack near Khartoum, hundreds of kilometres from their bases in the country's far west.
The attack was the closest Darfur rebels have ever come to the seat of Sudan's government, which they accuse of marginalizing ethnic African minorities in Darfur and worsening the region's humanitarian crisis.
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Last Updated ( Monday, 12 May 2008 )
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