The United States Senate approved on Wednesday a section of the Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill that provides for aid to areas of southern Sudan controlled by opposition elements to the government in Khartoum. Although the bill ostensibly calls for increased humanitarian aid in southern Sudan, a press release from the office of Kansas Republican Senator Sam Brownback, the main sponsor of the bill, indicates that the bill's primary focus is an attack on the National Islamic Front (NIF)-led Sudanese government.

The release, carried Thursday by the U.S. Information Service (USIS), quoted Brownback as saying he was "pleased" with the vote in light of what he called the Sudanese government's attempt "to spread [its] form of government throughout all of Africa," while supporting "terrorists who bomb our embassies and plot to murder the leaders of our allies." The bill, Senate Resolution 109, aims to undermine the Khartoum government by "doubling the funds that are made available" to "areas in Sudan that are controlled by the opposition to the National Islamic Front government."

The Senate vote, which interestingly came on the tenth anniversary celebration of the NIF government's hold on power in Sudan, drew sharp protest from Sudanese officials. In a statement reported Thursday by the Sudan News Agency (SUNA), Sudanese ambassador to the United States, Mahdi Ibrahim, condemned U.S. intervention in Sudan's internal affairs and said such interference should only be undertaken with the consent of the U.N. Security Council.

External Relations Minister, Dr. Mustafa Osman Ismail, said at a press conference on Thursday that the U.S. condemnation of Sudan and its pledge to support the rebels -- politically, militarily and financially -- as well its imposition of an air embargo on parts of the country, were unwarranted, according to SUNA. Ismail said he had hoped the United States would stand in favor of peace talks between the NIF and the rebels instead of supporting further strife.

While the United States insists on isolation of Sudan and the right to violate Sudanese sovereignty, evidenced by last year's bombing of a medicine factory in Khartoum, the NIF government appears to be garnering support from a variety of other sources. Russia, on July 1, voiced its support for the peace negotiations being called for by Khartoum, according to a report Thursday from Russia's official ITAR-TASS news agency. Following a visit to Britain last week by Osman Ismail, Sudan and Britain agreed to normalize relations that have been strained since Britain's support for the 1998 U.S. air strike against Sudan. On Thursday, the Democratic Republic of Korea's ambassador to Sudan lauded the achievements of the NIF government since taking power in 1989, according to SUNA. And on Tuesday, Sudan hosted high level officials from China and Iraq, both of whom reaffirmed close bilateral relations.

Despite the United States' economic embargo on Sudan, the East African nation continues to have extensive economic contact with companies from Britain, Germany, Malaysia, China and Argentina, who helped to fund the construction of a $1 billion pipeline, transporting oil from reserves in Sudan. Canada also has large interests in Sudan, mostly through Talisman Energy Inc., which controls the Greater Nile Oil Project.

Sudan also receives political support from numerous developing countries and is working to end local disagreements with Egypt and Eritrea. Ismail attended the recent annual meeting of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and expressed recognition of the OIC's continued support of Sudan, SUNA reported on June 30. The Arab League also maintains its backing of the Khartoum government. According to a July 1 SUNA report, Arab League Assistant Secretary General Ahmed Bin Hali "said in a press statement to SUNA that the [US] hostilities and allegations against Sudan are baseless and false."

So continued western isolation seems to reflect U.S. stubbornness in recognizing NIF progress on issues of democracy, peace and humanitarian concerns. According to a July 1 BBC report, Ismail, on a recent tour of Europe, urged the West to take a fresh look at Sudan's reforms and its efforts to bring peace about peace and to open up the political realm to dissenting groups.

During Wednesday's anniversary ceremony, Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir called attention to the formation of the Shura council set up to bring about national reconciliation with rebel groups and to inspire constructive dialogue, according to BBC monitoring of the event. According to the same BBC report, Bashir also used his anniversary speech to unveil Sudan's first native oil refinery, saying that the country is close to becoming self-sufficient.

And despite its reputed anti-American stance, the presidential address was surprisingly devoid of any direct condemnation of the West. Inter Press Service (IPS) reported Wednesday that the NIF "appears to be toning down its anti-Western rhetoric" and that Bashir "did not lash out at America as he used to do in the past." But the June 30 U.S. Senate vote shows that the United States is not ready to accept Sudan's offers for peace and reconciliation. And although the United States insists on Sudan's continued economic and political isolation, the contrary seems increasingly more likely.