Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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July 18, 2008

Sudan to Restore Diplomatic Relations with Chad 
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1D4BDEA:A6F02AD83191E16056424C6FA48601FF7F0EB4B66EA3A89D&
 
Countries severed relations after rebel attack on Khartoum in May 
Omar al-Bashir (file photo)Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir has
agreed to re-establish
diplomatic ties with Chad after severing relations following a rebel
attack on the Sudanese capital, Khartoum in May.Senegalese
officials, who have been meditating talks between the two sides, made
the announcement Friday in Senegal's capital, Dakar. Chad has denied any
involvement in the attack by Darfur-based rebels on Khartoum and its
twin city, Omdurman.Chad
and Sudan regularly accuse each other of supporting rebel movements in
the other country. In February, Chad accused Sudan of supporting an
attack on the Chadian capital, N'djamena, by Chadian rebels.Chad and
Sudan have signed several peace agreements in recent years, but
relations have remained hostile. U.N. officials say eastern Chad is now
home to about 250,000 refugees from Darfur.The officials say there are
also about 180,000 Chadians who have been displaced as a result of
fighting locally and in Darfur.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.


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