(VOVworld) - Sudan has ordered two senior UN officials to leave the country. UN sources said Thursday that the order appeared to be an escalation of President Omar Hassan al-Bashir's move against UN activities in Sudan.

Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir smiles during an interview with the Russia Today news channel at the Presidential Palace in Khartoum. (Photo: Reuters)

The officials are Ali Al-Za'tari of Jordan, Resident Coordinator of the UN Development Program, and Yvonne Helle of the Netherlands, UNDP's Country Director in Sudan. The official reason and date of their exit have not been announced.

UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric voiced the organization’s protest of the expelsion.