§ Mr. MacShaneTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the recent elections in Sudan. [28884]
§ Mr. HanleyRegrettably, the elections did not offer the Sudanese people a full choice. The opposition, whose parties remain banned, refused to take part. Government candidates were thus given a clear run. Observers also reported a number of flaws in the election organisation and procedures.
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§ Mr. MacShaneTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current state of relations between the United Kingdom and Sudan. [28883]
§ Mr. HanleyRelations with Sudan remain cool. We are concerned at the Government of Sudan's prosecution of the civil war in Sudan, their appalling human rights record, their support to terrorist groups and their obstruction of the UN's Operation Lifeline Sudan relief operation. The UK voted for, and will implement, UN Security Council resolution 1054, which imposes diplomatic and visa sanctions on the Government of Sudan for their failure to hand over three suspects implicated in last year's assassination attempt on President Mubarak of Egypt and their support for terrorist groups.
§ Mr. MacShaneTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the human rights situation in Sudan. [28885]
§ Mr. HanleyWe remain extremely concerned about human rights in Sudan. The continuing civil war in Sudan is a source of many serious abuses of human rights. We have received disturbing reports of slavery and genocide. The Sudanese authorities continue to detain activists without trial.
We welcome the Government of Sudan's agreement to resume co-operation with the UN special rapporteur, Gaspar Biro, and hope that they will facilitate his early visit to Sudan.