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UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

SUDAN: Arrival of first US military plane since 1993

NAIROBI, 21 May 2003 (IRIN) - A US military aircraft has landed in Sudan for the first time in 10 years, according to the US anti-terror task force operating in the Horn of Africa.

In a statement, received by IRIN on Wednesday, the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) said the C130 Hercules plane, on a logistics support mission, landed in Khartoum on 17 May.

It was met by Sudanese military officers and a US defence liaison officer in Khartoum, Colonel Dennis Giddens.

"The opportunity for CJTF-HOA personnel to visit Sudan highlights progress toward improving the overall relationship between the US and Sudan," the statement said.

It quoted Giddens as saying there had been "important changes" in ties between the two countries. He recalled that a year ago, Sudan had invited the US to open its military liaison office in Khartoum.

"Lately, Sudan has also been proactive in the war against terrorism, working to deny terrorists safe havens and means to operate," Giddens said.

"I am very proud of our accomplishments with the government here," he added. "Landing here today is symbolic because what pushed our two countries apart 10 years ago is now pulling us together, and that is the war against terrorism."

Sudanese Army Captain Hidar Mohammed Ahmed Mokhtar, of the ministry of defence protocol, described the event as "an important part of history".

Themes: (IRIN) Conflict

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