KHARTOUM, 16 June 2003 — Sudanese authorities are hunting a cell of some 40 suspected extremists seeking to wage “jihad” against the United States, a Sudanese newspaper reported yesterday.
They belong to the same group as 17 Saudis and a Palestinian who were extradited to Saudi Arabia earlier this month after being arrested during weapons training in western Sudan, the Akhbar Al-Youm daily quoted the governor of Western Kordofan state as saying.
“It (the group) calls for jihad (holy struggle) against the United States,” governor Al-Tayeb Abdel Rahman said, adding authorities had confiscated video cassettes, pamphlets and books which showed the cell was “dangerous and extremist”.
Abdel Rahman told the privately owned newspaper authorities had zeroed in on the 40 fugitives and were preparing to encircle and arrest them. As part of Sudan’s efforts to shed its reputation as a haven for militants, the Justice Ministry has also said it was setting up an office to combat terrorism and extradite suspected criminals, the state-owned Al-Anbaa daily reported yesterday.
