American Diplomat Murdered In Sudan

An American diplomat and his driver were gunned down in Khartoum, Sudan today. Officials are not certain whether the killing was political in nature or just a random street crime.

It was not immediately known if the attack had a political motive or was a random crime. Though Darfur, far to the west, is engulfed in violence, the Sudanese capital and its surroundings rarely see political violence or attacks by Islamic militants.

The Sudanese driver was killed immediately, and the American died of his injuries within hours, officials said.

"This afternoon, the American officer succumbed to his injuries and passed away," said Walter Braunohler, the spokesman at the U.S. Embassy in Khartoum.

Braunohler said the diplomat, whose name was not released, worked for the U.S. Agency for International Development.

The Sudanese Interior Ministry identified the wounded American as a humanitarian aid official and said he was shot five times in the hand, shoulder and belly. The diplomat underwent surgery following the attack, according to the ministry's statement.

It seems a bit of a reach to claim this might be street crime. Al Qaeda called for jihad if the UN peacekeepers went into Darfur - which they did on Monday. One rather suspects it is not coincidence.