Sudan risks becoming another Libya or Somalia, says US envoy

Sudan risks becoming another failed state likeLibya or Somalia if the opposition and military don't agree on atransition process, a senior US diplomat warned Friday.A positive outcome in troubled Sudan would be an agreement that leadsto a civilian government, while a negative outcome could lead to the"type of chaos that exists in Libya or Somalia," said Tibor Nagy,assistant US secretary of state for African affairs.Nagy said the mood changed dramatically on June 3, when Sudanesesecurity forces orchestrated a deadly crackdown on peacefulprotesters. "Until June 3, everyone was so optimistic," he toldreporters in a phone briefing.More than 100 people were killed and around 500 injured during thecrackdown on a mass sit-in in the Sudanese capital Khartoum,according to an association of doctors aligned with the protestmovement.The protesters had been demanding that the military, which toppledlong-time ruler Omar al-Bashir in an April coup, hand power to acivilian-led government.Nagy said the US is supporting the African Union's efforts to mediatebetween the civilian opposition and the governing transitionalmilitary council for a road-map towards elections.But when asked about possible sanctions, Nagy didn't rule out theoption. "The US always says that all tools available remain on thetable," he said.