Sudan lifted a ban Wednesday on an independent newspaper that had been closed down for running interviews with southern rebels and articles on corruption. The editor of the Al-Watan daily was given permission to resume publication immediately because of the country's "political changes and the national challenges faced by our country, which require rallying up more energy for unifying the national ranks," the national security and intelligence department said in a statement. Al-Watan was closed down in December 2002 when the government accused it of defamation, inciting sedition and undermining Sudan's society and its relations with other countries.