Special Seoul Tightens Security for Sudanese President
By Michael Ha
Staff Reporter
The government provided extra bodyguard personnel and heightened security measures for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who gave an opening speech Monday at the international conference for the Korea-Arab Society.
President al-Bashir, whose country is still in the midst of a drawn-out civil war, is visiting Korea for three days. He will leave for Japan later Tuesday.
The security was noticeably tight during the conference at the Lotte Hotel in central Seoul. The conference was also attended by some 200 representatives from 22 Arab nations.
A South Korean security official told Yonhap News Service that considering the situations in Darfur, ``we cannot help but bolster our security against possible threats" on Sudanese President al-Bashir.
The presidential office didn't provide details on security operation for the Sudanese leader, but at least a dozen security personnel were seen providing protection for the Sudanese President at the conference. ``He is labeled among us as a subject of A-level security," according to the presidential office.
Sudanese President al-Bashir was also scheduled to meet with President Lee Myung-bak to discuss ways to boost bilateral ties. Sudan is an oil-producing nation. It began exporting crude oil in 1999 and the country's economy is benefiting from its boost in oil production and rising oil prices.
But the civil conflict has been taking a heavy toll. Experts say some 200,000 people may have died since rebels began their uprising in 2003. President al-Bashir's government has also been blamed in the drawn-out civil conflict and has been accused of torturing rebel suspects and making arbitrary arrests.
The society will be launched on June 30 and will help expand economic and cultural cooperation between Korea and 22 participating Arab states. It is also seen as part of President Lee Myung-bak's ``energy diplomacy" to bolster economic ties with energy-rich and oil-producing nations.