By Daniel Van Oudenaren

http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article33995

But Mr. Obama’s diplomatic approach has come under fire in other quarters. "Our position is that the U.S. policy of engagement with Khartoum has emboldened the ruling party," Leonard A. Leo, chairman of the United States Commission for International Religious Freedom said in an interview today with Sudan Tribune. The commission chairman, who visited Sudan in both December and January, cited crackdowns on opposition members and unchecked security powers that could affect the April elections.

"I think it’s important that the Administration announce what specifically it’s been doing to ensure free and fair elections," said Mr. Leo, "…there are just a lot of unanswered questions about the Administration’s involvement in some of this and where it’s headed. I think that would be my major concern on what’s going on here."