The U.S. administration expressed concern over the pattern of increasing political repression the Khartoum government is showing with arrests of opposition leaders, journalists and activists.
U.S. State Department spokesman Philip J. Crowley cited arrests of two opposition leaders in mid-May, one of whom is still detained, Bloomberg reported.Mr. Crowley noted the authorities prevented activists from leaving the country for a conference in Uganda on the International Criminal Court.
The official told reporters at the State Department in Washington that the U.S. was also troubled by the closure of the Rai al-Sha’ab newspaper and the arrests and alleged mistreatment of staff members.
Mr. Crowley called on the Sudan government to ensure that those in custody were afforded due process and received medical care.