Khartoum: Sudan on October 21 strongly supported observer status for India at the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) and the candidature for a permanent seat in UN Security Council.

This was conveyed to President A P J Abdul Kalam by Sudanese leaders including President Omer Hassan Ahmed Al Bashir and his Foreign Minister Mustafa Osman Ismail during talks.

Russia has already given the status to India.

Supporting India's candidature for a permanent seat in the U N Security Council Sudanese leaders said, "revitalising the UN was important. Otherwise there would be no buffer between the superpowers and other nations," Minister for Disinvestment, Arun Shourie said briefing reporters on talks between Indian and Sudanese leaders on the second day of President Kalam's state visit to this country.

He said the Sudanese leaders felt that the Security Council needs to be more responsive to the needs of other countries and therefore India becoming a permanent member would be of immense encouragement to other nations.

PTI