The United States thanked the Sudanese government (Khartoum) for deciding to share intelligence information on Osama Bin Laden and terrorist groups linked to him. The US has designated Sudan as a "state sponsor of terrorism." A US State Department spokesman said that the Sudanese government has provided information on past operations by terrorist groups in Sudan and that the US expects Sudan to take "every possible step to expel terrorists and deny them safe haven." Though Sudan will still draw US economic and political sanctions, the US has decided to support a UN Security Council decision (made September 28) to lift UN diplomatic sanctions on Sudan. That's a signal from Washington that Sudanese cooperation will elicit rewards.