US senator Kerry visits Sudan

An influential Democratic senator is on a three-day visit to Sudan, the second by a US official since the International Criminal Court  issued an arrest warrant for the country's president. John Kerry, the senate's foreign relations chairman, arrived in Sudan on Wednesday and is expected to visit the war-torn western region of Darfur.He will not meet Omar al-Bashir, the Sudanese president, during his visit.But Kerry is expected to meet al-Bashir's advisers and Ali Osman Taha, the Sudanese vice-president, officials said.Kerry's trip came a week after a visit by Scott Gration, the US envoy to Sudan. He said the US wanted to strengthen its ties with Sudan.The UN says that the war in Darfur that began in 2003 has killed about 300,000 people. Khartoum disputes the figure and says only 10,000 people have died in the conflict.The unrest was triggered by a rebellion started by Darfuris who accuse the government of marginalising them.