The Egyptian interior minister, Habib al-Adli, has accused Sudan of souring the recently-improving relations between them.

Speaking in an interview with the London-based Arabic newspaper Al-Hayat, Mr al-Adli said there had been signs of a rapprochement between them in recent months.

But he said the relationship was becoming more tense with the Khartoum government's continuing refusal to hand over three men accused of attempting to assassinate President Mubarak in l995 were in Sudan.

Egypt has already accused Sudan of harbouring the men said to belong to the Gamaat al-Islamiya. and Mr al-Adli said he knew they had a presence and links in the country.

The assassination attempt took place while the president was attending an OAU summit in Ethiopia.