Sudan rejects request to allow entry of US Marines to its territories

Sudan on Saturday rejected an official US request to allow the entry of U.S. Marine infantry troops to its territories to enhance the protection around its embassy in Sudan following recent bloody protests in Khartoum. "The US State Department has filed an official request to Sudan to allow entry of a team of U.S. marines under the pretext of enhancing the protection around the American embassy," Al-Obaid Ahmed Mirawih, spokesman of Sudan's Foreign Ministry, told Xinhua. "Ali Karti, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, apologized on the request and reiterated that the Sudanese authorities are capable of protecting all the diplomatic missions in Khartoum," he added. On Friday, massive demonstrations broke out in the Sudanese capital Khartoum where thousands of protesters attacked the German and British embassies in Khartoum and then attempted to storm the US embassy in protest against a movie that insults the Prophet Mohamed and which has triggered protests across the Arab and Islamic countries. At least three protesters were killed during the protest on Friday near the U.S. embassy when they were hit by a police vehicle, while some 50 other civilians and policemen were injured. In the meantime, US Vice-President Joe Biden was reported to have called his Sudanese counterpart Ali Osman Mohamed Taha on Friday and urged him to ensure the protection of the diplomats in Khartoum.