NEW YORK, Sept. 12 (UPI) -- A U.S. court has dismissed a lawsuit against a Canadian energy company accused of taking part in human rights violations in southern Sudan.
The New York judge ruled there was no evidence to justify claims that Talisman Energy, which operated indirectly in Sudan from 1998 to 2003, had performed any human rights violations in the war-torn African nation, Voice of America reported.
The Presbyterian Church of Sudan filed the civil claim on behalf of villagers who were allegedly killed and injured to allow construction of oil fields in Sudan.
Sudan's government was also named in the lawsuit. However, the judge ruled that Sudan was in default after it failed to send attorneys to challenge the claims.
Canada's government has criticized the lawsuit, claiming the U.S. court does not have appropriate jurisdiction over the matter.
