Sudan bans foreign reporters

Western journalists trailing Condoleeza Rice's visit to the dictator of Sudan were denied access and apparently "roughed up." This is par for the course in a country controlled by a dictator who allows genocide such as Darfur.

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It all started when we arrived to witness the opening diplomatic pleasantries of that meeting at the president's palace in Khartoum.

The Sudanese camera crews and reporters were allowed in without much fuss, but those of us travelling with the secretary of state were barred by men who had clearly been told to keep the foreign reporters at bay.

Ms Rice's staff began to protest, we began to try to push our way past the door, but the security staff still would not budge.

A formal complaint was made by state department spokesman Sean McCormack.

Ms Rice's senior advisor Jim Wilkinson - a red-headed Texan with by now a mood to match the colour of his hair - accused the Sudanese of ignoring the basic principles of good diplomacy.

"We frankly don't appreciate being manhandled at the front door... We think our reporters should get as much access as possible... they were promised access.

"Diplomacy 101 [the basics] says you don't rough your guests up," he fumed.

Mr Wilkinson could later be seen wagging his finger at senior Sudanese ministers.

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Jonathan Beale, who wrote the article for the BBC, did exemplary work explaining that Sudanese military men eventually allowed the journalists entry, but advised them not to ask questions. Bolding is mine.

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Eventually a man in a military uniform - and there were plenty of those - reluctantly obliged with the warning that we were not to ask any questions, which is a bit like asking an alcoholic not to raid the minibar left wide open.

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