US slams irregularities in Sudan election

WASHINGTON, April 20 (Reuters) - The White House charged on Tuesday that Sudan's national election was plagued by "serious irregularities" and said the United States was committed to helping ensure a 2011 referendum on southern independence was conducted fairly.

"The United States regrets that Sudan's National Elections Commission did not do more to prevent and address such problems prior to voting," the White House said in a statement.

Sudan this month held its first open polls in 24 years as part of a peace deal that was supposed to bring the oil-producing nation back to democracy after decades of civil war. (Reporting by Matt Spetalnick)