Sudan has turned down an American request to close down the offices of the Hamas and Islamic Jihad Movements in Khartoum. AFP quoted Ibrahim Omar, secretary general of the ruling national conference party, as saying that the American secretary of state, Colin Powell, had tabled such a request. Omar refused to describe those two Palestinian organizations as âterroristâ, adding that his governmentâs position towards them was clear namely that they were Islamic forces struggling to liberate Palestinian lands, âwhich is a legitimate rightâ.
âWe do not share the opinion that Hamas and Islamic Jihad were pursuing terrorist activities,â Omar elaborated, adding that Zionist premier Ariel Sharon was the one to be described as a âterroristâ.
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