Letter: Apologise to Sudan

Sir: Last year you published two letters of mine which threw doubt on the assertion by US that a certain factory in Sudan had been participating in the manufacture or handling of chemical warfare agents. The factory is now known to have produced no such chemicals, and no evidence has appeared that any warfare agent passed through it (report, 15 February).

Clearly, the US, supported by Britain, made a serious mistake when it bombed and destroyed the factory. The capability of Sudan to provide simple medicines for its people has been damaged by this act of war. There should be no further hesitation: the American and British governments should apologise and give all possible assistance to the Sudanese government in the rebuilding of the factory. The alternative is to wait for US and ourselves to be dragged and shamed before an international court of justice.

Professor R J P WILLIAMS FRS

Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory

University of Oxford