Khartoum denies western rebels’ offensive on Darfur

KHARTOUM, Feb 13, 2004 (Sudan Tribune) — The Sudanese government has confirmed its military control over Darfur region in western Sudan and denied allegations that the Darfur rebels have cut off routes connecting Darfur regional capitals.

Rebels in Sudan’s Darfur region said yesterday they launched a major offensive against government forces and they had retaken several towns and routes leading to its three capitals.

The secretary-general of the ruling National Congress, Ibrahim Ahmad Omar, stressed that the armed forces were in control of the situation in Darfur.

Commenting on the rebels’ allegations, he said “All federal officials have confirmed that the armed forces are in full control of the situation in Darfur.”

Meanwhile, a delegation including the EU envoy, the British ambassador and the Dutch charge d’affaires yesterday visited the capital of Northern Darfur Al- Fashir to assess the flow of humanitarian aid in the region.

The northern Darfur humanitarian aid commissioner, Ibrahim Ahmad Hamid, said the delegation would visit the town of Kutum in northern Darfur the same day, to assess the humanitarian situation. The team will also visit displaced camps in Kutum and then leave for Nyala in southern Darfur.