Sudan says no to UN

Sudan is reported to have rejected a United Nations request to open a human rights office in the country.

A Khartoum newspaper, Akhbar al-Youm, quoted a government source as saying some of the organisations allowed in to the country in the past for humanitarian work had given help to the rebels.

The Sudanese authorities, who have been accused of human rights abuses, have recently reported progress in winning over fighters from the main southern rebel faction, the SPLA.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service