'Chad's decision is a crisis'
2006-04-15 17:54
Khartoum - Sudan has confirmed Chad's decision to cut diplomatic relations with the Khartoum government.
On Saturday, a Sudanese presidential spokesperson in Khartoum described the move as a "crisis".
Sudanese foreign affairs spokesperson, Jamal Ibrahim, said: "This morning the Chadian government called the Sudanese charge d'affaires in El Geneina and she was informed officially that Chad has decided unilaterally to cease diplomatic relations with Sudan."
He said the Sudanese diplomat in El Geneina in eastern Chad was given five days to leave the country.
N'djamena said on Friday that it would cut all diplomatic ties with Khartoum.
Chad accused Sudan of supporting rebels, who have staged two failed coup attempts in Chad in the last month.
The latest coup in the country was repulsed by Chadian government forces on Thursday.
Ibrahim said: "It is a crisis but we think it is a temporary one and we think it can be resolved within the African Union."
Sudan has denied trying to foment unrest in Chad.
Chadian President Idriss Deby has threatened to expel 250 000 Sudanese refugees in eastern Chad by June if the international community does not resolve Sudan's Darfur crisis.
He said the conflict in Darfur was undermining security in Chad.
- SAPA