...an idea whose time has gone...
officials to leave, the world body said on Thursday, in what appeared to be an escalation of President Omar Hassan al-Bashir's move against U.N. activities in the country.
The United Nations said in a statement that the officials are Ali Al-Za'tari, U.N. resident coordinator at the United Nations Development Programme; and Yvonne Helle, the UNDP's country director.
U.N. front man Stephane Dujarric said in the statement that Secretary-General
the ephemeral Ban Ki-moon... of whom it can be said to his credit that he is not Kofi Annan...
condemned Khartoum's demand for the exit of the two senior UNDP officials.
"The sanctioning of United Nations personnel sent to Sudan to carry out their duties in accordance with the United Nations Charter is unacceptable," Dujarric said.
"The Secretary-General calls on the government of Sudan to reverse its decision immediately and urges it to cooperate fully with all United Nations entities present in Sudan," he added.