GONU EXTENDS CONDOLENCES ON KILLING OF U.S. DIPLOMAT

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 000009 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER PREL KSCA OTRA EAID CDC SU SUBJECT: GONU EXTENDS CONDOLENCES ON KILLING OF U.S. DIPLOMAT ¶1. Post received a Diplomatic Note dated January 2, 2008 from the Presidency of the Republic of Sudan expressing condolences on the shooting death of USAID officer John Granville in Khartoum on New Year's morning. Below is a non-official translation of the text of the Note, the original of which was in Arabic. ¶2. BEGIN TEXT OF DIP NOTE: January 2, 2008 In the name of Presidential Advisor and Deputy Chief of the Eastern Front, Dr. Amna Mohamed Salih Dirar: We present our condolences to your Excellencies following the assassination of John Michael which happened yesterday and we regret this act which is contrary to human nature. We ask that you pass our sympathy on to the deceased's family, to your (colleagues at the) Embassy in Khartoum, and to all the people of the United States of America. Dr. Amna Mohamed Salih Dirar Presidential Advisor END TEXT ¶3. (SBU) COMMENT: The expression of condolences contained in the Diplomatic Note reflects the sentiments of the many Government officials and Sudanese citizens post has received through more informal channels. POWERS