Sudan president urges to resolve outstanding issues with Egypt

KHARTOUM, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on Wednesday directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and concerned authorities to work to resolve outstanding issues with Egypt.

Al-Bashir on Wednesday met Sudan's Ambassador to Egypt Abdul Mahmoud Abdul Haleem, who was recalled by the Foreign Ministry on Jan. 4 for consultations.

"The meeting reviewed the current status of the Sudanese-Egyptian relations and the situations in the region," said the ambassador in a statement.

"The President of the Republic has directed for resolving the outstanding issues with Egypt, which necessitated the recall of the ambassador.

The president was also reassured on the situations of the Sudanese community in Egypt," said Abdul Haleem.

Relations between Egypt and Sudan have been tense over the past years on various issues, including their difference over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam which Ethiopia is building on the main sources of the Nile River.

The two countries also have a territorial dispute over the border region of Halayeb and Shalateen, which are currently under Egyptian control. Enditem