KHARTOUM, July 19 (Xinhua) -- Sudan on Sunday rejected new U.S. sanctions imposed on the country, describing the measures as "unilateral and illegal" and "based on false allegations."
The United States on Friday announced the implementation of a second round of sanctions, after determining that the Sudanese army had used chemical weapons and that Sudan had failed to meet the conditions required to have the measures lifted.
In a press statement, Sudan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said the government had previously denied the allegations and stressed that it neither produces, possesses, nor uses chemical weapons.
It accused the United States of not only failing to provide any credible evidence but also disregarding the technical mechanisms and procedures stipulated under the Chemical Weapons Convention before imposing sanctions on Sudan.
This demonstrates that the sanctions "are driven purely by political motives and do not reflect genuine concerns about preventing the use of chemical weapons," the ministry said.
The sanctions, which are scheduled to take effect on July 20, include U.S. opposition to loans, financial assistance, and technical support for Sudan through international financial institutions, except for humanitarian aid.
The measures also ban the export of most U.S. goods and technologies to Sudan, while imposing tighter controls on exports that could have sensitive or military applications. ■