9 Mar 2009

Sudan's president threatens aid agencies

11:00 am on 9 March 2009

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has threatened further action against aid agencies if, as he put it, they interfere in Sudan's affairs.

Mr Bashir has already closed 13 foreign and three local aid agencies - a move that has put a million lives at risk, according to the United Nations.

His outburst against the agencies follows the International Criminal Court's issuing of an arrest warrant against him for war crimes committed in the Darfur region.

Mr Bashir, speaking during his first visit to the north Darfur capital of El-Fasher since the court issued the warrant, says he will expel anyone deemed to be harming Sudan's security and stability.