The foreign minister of Qatar, Shaykh Hamad al-Jasim Bin Jabr al Thani, has said there's been a positive response to his efforts to mediate a solution to the conflict between Sudan and Eritrea.

He made the remarks after visiting both countries.

However, a statement by the Sudanese news agency, SUNA, said Khartoum had requested the intervention of the United Nations Security Council to put an end to what it described as aggression against Sudan.

Correspondents say that Sudan routinely accuses Eritrea of harbouring Sudanese rebels and of supporting rebel attacks in an attempt to remove the Islamist government.

Eritrea denies the charges.