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SUDAN

Sudan summons Norway envoy after vote protest

Sudan summoned Norway's ambassador on Tuesday to protest the country's harsh criticism of last week's elections, which are expected to give President Omar al-Bashir another term in office, as neither "free" nor "fair".

Sudan summons Norway envoy after vote protest
Norwegian ambassador Morten Aaslund meets the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party. Photo: European Union.
Morton Aaslund on Monday issued a statement along with his counterparts from the UK and the US in which the three countries said they regretted Khartoum's "failure to create a free, fair and conducive elections environment."
 
In a statement summoning the ambassadors to Sudan's foreign ministry, Khartoum labelled the criticism "blatant interference in the internal affairs of the country."
 
"The elections are a purely Sudanese affair decided by the Sudanese, and no other party has the right to intervene or express an opinion," a statement said.
 
The European Union representative in Khartoum was also summoned, the ministry said, without giving details.
 
EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini had said before voting began that the election could not produce a credible result, citing the ruling National Congress Party's failure to attend a meeting with the opposition to
arrange a national dialogue.
 
Bashir proposed the dialogue last January as a way to resolve the country's economic woes and the conflicts on its peripheries.
 
The foreign ministry said Sudan was committed to resuming the dialogue after the election results are announced and a new government is formed.
 
The polls for the presidency and state and national parliaments were boycotted by the mainstream opposition.
 
Thirteen little-known candidates are challenging Bashir, after two others withdrew after voting got underway, complaining of irregularities in the electoral process. Results are expected on Monday.
 
Bashir, 71, is wanted by the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide in the western region of Darfur.

IRAN

Commerzbank to pay $1bn on Iran sanctions

Commerzbank has reached a preliminary agreement with US authorities to pay more than €800 million for violating sanctions on Iran and Sudan, a person familiar with the matter said Thursday.

Commerzbank to pay $1bn on Iran sanctions
Number crunching time. Photo: DPA

Germany's second-largest bank is close to a deal with the Department of Justice, the Federal Reserve and other US regulators that would also cover charges that it violated US money-laundering rules. A settlement is expected by January, the person told the Financial Times. 

Under the accord, the German bank would pay a fine around €485 million for transactions that did business with sanctioned countries including Iran, Sudan and others.

The remaining sums would resolve other charges, including an investigation led by the Manhattan District Attorney into poor internal controls on money laundering.

While the two sides have agreed on the size of the fine, negotiators from the bank are still in talks with New York state financial regulator Benjamin Lawsky over other terms of the deal, the source said.

Lawsky is known for imposing conditions in such deals including requiring banks to fire employees involved in wrongdoing and clawing back compensation.

A Commerzbank spokesman declined to comment.

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