The Sudanese government reiterated on Saturday that it would not retreat from its decision to expel more than a dozen of international nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) operating relief work in its western region of Darfur. Sudanese Vice President Ali Osman Mohammed Taha made the remarks at the opening session of the conference of Arab civil society institutions. "The government's decision to expel some of the organizations is a sovereign decision which was dictated by the national interest. We will not back down from this decision whatever the pressures," Taha said.