Sudanese envoy to be turfed from Ottawa
Updated Wed. Aug. 29 2007 1:41 PM ET

CTV.ca News Staff

Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Bernier has announced that a high-ranking envoy at the Sudanese embassy in Ottawa will be turfed from the country in a retaliatory move that is expected to turn up the heat on a simmering diplomatic dispute.


Bernier says Canada has decided to expel the diplomat in response to the Sudanese government's expulsion of Canada's chargé d'affaires, Nuala Lawlor.


"Canada considers the expulsion of our chargé d'affaires to be entirely unjustified. Wherever they are posted, Canada's diplomats will continue to work to uphold Canadian values of freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law," Bernier said in a statement.


Sudan's ambassador in Ottawa has been notified of the decision, which will take effect on September 1.


Earlier this month, the Sudanese government announced that it would be expelling Lawlor and EU's diplomat Kent Degerfelt for "meddling in its affairs."


Lawlor and Degerfelt had allegedly been seeking the release of opposition politicians who had been imprisoned over an alleged coup attempt.


At the time, the Sudanese government asserted that the expulsion order should not hinder relations between Sudan and the EU or Canada.


Earlier this week, Bernier said he spoke to Sudanese Foreign Minister Lam Akol in protest of Lawlor's expulsion and conveyed "Canada's strong concern about Sudan's decision to expel Canada's charge d'affaires."


But Bernier's efforts were to no avail, he said.


As a result, Bernier has directed Lawlor to leave Sudan.


Canada has already cut off bilateral aid to the Sudanese government and ensures that its aid money flows through the African Union's mission in that country.


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