Reports in Sudan say intensive secret contacts have been made between Sudan and the United States.

The newspaper, al-Rai al-Aam, quotes the Sudanese Foreign Minister, Mustafa Osman Ismail, as saying the initiative aimed at restoring diplomatic relations had originated with Washington.

Sudan's President, Omar al-Bashir, said yesterday that he hoped for better relations with the US.

Washington has not confirmed whether any contacts have been made.

A BBC Arab Affairs analyst says American/Sudanese relations have been particularly strained following a US attack last August on a pharmaceutical plant in Khartoum which Washington said was involved in chemical weapons production.