Sudan strikes less strident note on crisis

Sudanese president Omar Hassan al-Bashir says he would not allow conflict with South Sudan to overshadow “strategic relations” with its people, striking a less confrontational tone over a crisis that has raised fears of war.

After South Sudan seized the Heglig oilfield last month, Mr Bashir vowed to free the South’s citizens from the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, whom he called “insects”.

During a month of conflict, the United Nations condemned Sudan’s air strikes on South Sudan’s territory and international pressure forced the South to withdraw from Heglig.

Yesterday, Mr Bashir said South Sudan’s “infringements” on Sudanese territory and its “muddying of the brotherly relations between the two countries in a blatant way will not deflect us from our strategic relations with the people of South Sudan”.

He added: “We look with wisdom and foresight to well-established relations between us and the people of South Sudan,” speaking in an uncharacteristically mild manner, at a conference to discuss a five-year plan.