Sudan tells EU, Canadian envoys to leave

BRUSSELS, Aug 23 (Reuters) Sudan has told the European Union and Canadian envoys to leave the war-torn African country, Western officials said today.

The EU Commission said its envoy, Kent Degerfelt, had been ordered out, while an official at the Canadian embassy in Khartoum confirmed that its chief of mission had also been asked to leave.

The Canadian envoy has already left the country and his replacement is not due to arrive until next month.

Sudan's foreign minister declined to comment on the decision.

''We received a letter informing the head of the delegation that he should leave,'' said Commission spokeswoman Antonia Mochan in Brussels.

''We are trying to resolve the situation,'' she added, declining to give further details.

The EU has been trying to help end the conflict in Darfur, where this week government forces surrounded and attacked the region's most volatile camp to flush out rebels they say are behind recent attacks on police.

The African Union force in Darfur has failed to stem the violence despite a 2006 peace deal. International experts estimate some 200,000 people have died and 2.5 million driven from their homes since mostly non-Arab rebels took up arms in early 2003.

Sudan has a history of difficult relations with Western diplomats, whom it sometimes accuses of meddling with the country's internal affairs. Last year, it expelled Top United Nations envoy to the country, Jan Pronk.

REUTERS AK BST0056