PRESIDENT George W. Bush on Thursday extended US sanctions on Sudan by one year, citing “continuing concern” about Khartoum’s record on terrorism and human rights. The punitive measures were imposed on Sudan in November 1997 by then US president Bill Clinton. In late September, the UN Security Council lifted UN sanctions imposed on Sudan after a 1996 attempt to assassinate Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Bush, in a statement released by the White House, cited “continuing concern about (Sudan’s) record on terrorism and the prevalence of human rights violations,” including slavery and restrictions on religious freedom. – AFP