Rice's Crew Roughed Up In Sudan

Secretary Of State Protests Treatment Of Advisers, Press With Her

(CBS/AP)  The guards elbowed Americans and tried to rip a tape away from a U.S. reporter. At another point, Rice's interpreter and some other aides accompanying her were blocked at a gate.

Ambassador Khidair Haroun Ahmed, head of the Sudanese mission in Washington, attempted to smooth over the situation on the spot. "Please accept our apologies," he told the reporters and aides. "This is not our policy."

But there was yet another scuffle moments later when a U.S. television reporter tried to ask el-Bashir a question about his involvement with alleged atrocities.

Guards grabbed the diminutive reporter and muscled her toward the rear of the room as State Department officials shouted at the guards to leave her alone.

Describing Rice's meeting with el-Bashir, Wilkinson said, "She was very direct about the skepticism of the international community about their ability to improve Darfur."

U.S. officials said Sudanese officials repeatedly asked Rice to lift sanctions, but that she gave them no promises.

The session at el-Bashir's residence capped a morning of meetings before a visit to the western Darfur region, where the United States blames his government for recruiting and equipping militiamen to massacre rural villagers and burn their homes.

He denies government involvement, but the United States and international organizations say his military sent helicopter gunships to bomb small villages before raiders swept in with horses, guns and knives.

Rice's visit to the sprawling Abu Shouk refugee camp, the second-largest in the region, went more according to form.

After a bumpy and dusty ride from the airport, she was surrounded by children reaching for her hand and chanting: "Welcome, Welcome Condoleezza."