UNITED NATIONS, May 20 (UPI) -- United Nations and Sudanese officials are in conflict over the brutal treatment of foreign aid workers, it was reported Sunday.
Sudanese officials say foreign aid workers blatantly ignore Sudan's Islamic traditions, while the United Nations urges Sudan to use more tolerance, the Washington Post reported.
The most flagrant example occurred in January when Sudanese police attacked 20 international aid workers who were celebrating a day off with an afternoon of dining, drinking and dancing at a guesthouse owned by the American Refugee Committee in Nyala, Darfur.
The attack has become a test of U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon's efforts to use quiet diplomacy with Sudan, the Post said. But thus far, Ban has been rebuffed by Sudanese officials who say foreign aid workers and U.N. staff members will be held accountable for violating Sudanese law, the Post said.
"Those who have come to help the (Sudanese) population are now themselves targets," said John Holmes, the U.N. undersecretary general for humanitarian affairs.
