Sudanese police affirmed on Sunday the arrest of 16 suspects in the murder of the journalist Mohammad Taha Ahmad, editor in chief of the pro-Islamist Al-Wifaq daily. A sniffer dog had recognized two of the suspects based on objects found at the crime's scene. Sudanese police chief, General Mahjub Hassan Saad, denied while speaking to newsmen here, arrest of any foreigners among the arrested 16 suspects. He noted that all contacts in the vicinity of Ahmad's home, his work place, scene of the crime as well as exit and entry through Khartoum airport were detected prior and after the crime.Earlier this month, a senior Sudanese security official said "foreign hands" may have been involved in the killing of Ahmad. Ahmad had strained relations with the government of President Omar al-Bashir, who came to power with the backing of Islamists. He had escaped an assassination attempt in 2000 after writing an article hostile to the ruling National Congress Party. The murdered journalist had also angered rebels in the troubled western province of Darfur after articles harshly criticizing them were published in his newspaper.