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Sudanese forces renew Darfur bombardment
Khartoum (AFP) Jan 27, 2009 Sudanese armed forces waged air strikes and artillery attacks on rebels in two key areas of Darfur for a second day on Tuesday, UN peacekeepers said. Sudanese troops on Monday clashed with gunmen belonging to the Justice and Equality Movement -- Darfur's most powerful rebel group -- sparking panic in El-Fasher, one of the western region's main cities. Tuesday's renewed assault targeted JEM positions close to El-Fasher, which is also home to the main base of the United Nations and African Union peacekeeping Mission in Darfur (UNAMID). "Ground and aerial bombings by the government continued this morning approximately nine kilometres (five miles) from El-Fasher in an attempt to clear the area of armed movements who had advanced towards the outskirts of the city yesterday," the peacekeepers said in a statement. "There have been no reports of death and casualties among civilians and UNAMID personnel," the statement said. Fighting also continued south of El-Fasher near Muhajaria, which JEM seized last week from forces loyal to the Sudanese Liberation Army (SLA) faction of Minni Minawi, the only rebel group to have signed a peace deal with Khartoum. The fighting in Muhajaria wounded three civilians and resulted "in approximately 3,000 people gathering around a UNAMID camp seeking shelter and protection," the statement said. A JEM spokesman said on Monday there was an "enormous battle" to the northeast of Muhajaria in which he said the rebels had repulsed a convoy of 130 army vehicles and its air support. There was no immediate confirmation from the Sudanese military of either the battle or the reported losses. UN chief Ban Ki-moon strongly condemned the renewed fighting. Ban deplored "these continued military actions which continue to put civilian lives at risk and to jeopardise the political process," his spokeswoman Michele Montas said on Monday. The United Nations says that up to 300,000 people in Darfur have died and more than 2.2 million have been displaced since the uprising against Sudan's Arab-dominated government started in February 2003. Khartoum says 10,000 people have died. The conflict has deteriorated with the emergence of a multiplying array of rebel groups, breakaway militias and bandits. Related Links Africa News - Resources, Health, Food
Sudan planes bomb Darfur rebel positions: rebels
Khartoum (AFP) Jan 26, 2009Sudanese warplanes on Monday bombed Darfur rebel positions near the key town of El-Fasher ahead of an expected ground offensive, an official from the Justice and Equality Movement told AFP. |
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