Sudanese Government Won’t Allow U.S. Marines To Secure Embassy

The Sudanese government has rejected a requested by the United States to send U.S Marines to secure our embassy in Khartoum stating they were fully capable of defending the embassies in their country. From Reuters:

Sudan has rejected a U.S. request to send a platoon of Marines to bolster security at the U.S. embassy outside Khartoum, the state news agency SUNA said on Saturday.

On Friday, around 5,000 people protested against a film that insults the Prophet Mohammad, storming the German embassy before breaking into the U.S. mission.

They also attacked the British embassy. At least two people were killed in clashes with police, according to state media.

A U.S. official told Reuters on Friday that Washington would send Marines to Sudan to improve security at the embassy, which is located outside Khartoum for security reasons.

“Sudan is able to protect the diplomatic missions in Khartoum and the state is committed to protecting its guests in the diplomatic corps,” Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali Ahmed Karti told SUNA.

The U.S. State Department declined to comment.

Sudan beefed up security at some missions on Saturday. A riot police truck was parked in front of the deserted German embassy, which protesters had set on fire on Friday. An Islamic flag raised by the crowd was still flying. Three officers manned the main gate.

More than 20 police officers were sitting in front of the U.S. embassy.

I guess this isn’t all that surprising considering, as the Reuters article goes on to say, the Sudanese government actually called for protests. Of course they called for peaceful ones, but this doesn’t make it look like they’re overly concerned with the violence taking place now.