Rebels claim downing Sudanese helicopters in Darfur attacks

February 19, 2008 (PARIS) — Darfur rebel movements said they had shot down Sudanese army helicopters during aerial bombing for the second day against rebel positions in Jebel Moun, West Darfur State.

The Official Spokesman of the Armed Forces Brig. Osman Mohamed Al-Aghbash confirmed the attack saying The Sudanese army cleared the Jebel Moun from the rebel presence and it controls the totality of the area.

The Sudan Liberation Movement led by Abdel Wahid Al-Nur and Justice and Equality Movement led by Khalil Ibrahim said today they downed military helicopters during clashes with the Sudanese army today.

The Sudan Liberation Army SLA commander for Jebel Moun area, Abbas Mohamed Offail, told Sudan Tribune by telephone satellite that they downed a military helicopter Tuesday afternoon in the west of Jebel Moun adding that the military engine crashed near El-Jeneina the capital of the state.

While the JEM said in a press statement it “shot down two of the helicopters.” The rebel group it used ground to air missiles.

Offail said the Sudanese army resumed the bombardment today at 08:00 am and the raids continued up to 06:00 pm (local time). He further said that six planes participated in the bombing: two antonov, two Mig, and two helicopter equipped with machinegun.

Ahmed Adam Bakheit, JEM Chief Commander also mentioned in his communiqué the three types of military airplanes.

According to the rebel SLA commander, the aerial strike was accompanied by a ground attack carried out by Sudanese army troops and the Janjaweed militia. The assailing troops killed ten civilians and destructed and burned five villages in Jebel Moun.

“Troops transported by 150 vehicles, camels and horses attacked and burned fives villages: Kossi, Arti, Nouranya, Swani and Treteta, the SLA commander said.

The SLA rebel official reaffirmed that they repelled the assailants claiming killing 30 government troops and militia. He also added that they army had 50 wounded soldiers. Offail pledged to release further details later.

JEM said the inflicted heavy looses on the Sudanese army, without further details.

“A major battle resulted in an outright defeat of the perpetrators with heavy losses in human and military equipments by the GoS.” JEM stated.

JEM said the Sudanese army attacked the area “for the retreating Chadian rebels fleeing N’Djamena.”

UNHCR spokesperson in Geneva, Jennifer Pagonis, said today that Aerial bombing overnight and this morning in West Darfur, Sudan, close to the border with Chad, has forced UNHCR to withdraw its team caring for newly arrived refugees in the Birak area away from the insecure border.

“We now estimate there are at least 10,000 new arrivals since 8 February. Most of the refugees are in Figuera, with smaller numbers in Birak, Djange and Korok. But more arrivals are still expected and with the fresh bombing we can expect more displacement in West Darfur. We have no further details at the moment.”

Yesterday the SLM/A leader, Abdel-Wahid Al-Nur, condemned the army attacks urging the international community to put pressure on Khartoum to stop “these criminal and barbaric attacks against the innocent civilians.”

He further reiterated his rejection to negotiate with Khartoum unless an effective protection for Darfur civilians is provided by the international community.

ARMY STATEMENT

The Sudanese army said in a statement issued this evening that it conducted a military operation to disenclave Kulbus area that the rebel Justice and equality Movement with the Chadian support had cut the road between it and El Geneina.

The army statement said this situation “deprived citizens of the most basic necessities of life, forcing the government often delivering food by air.”

The military statement added that JEM had received recently anti-aircraft weapons that made impossible to supply the civilians via airplanes.

The army didn’t mention attacks against the positions of the SLM positions and civilians.

The SLM leader had spoke yesterday about the military build-up by the Sudanese army saying his troops were ready to fight.

The majority of the new arrivals had already been internally displaced in West Darfur, the HCR said today.

The UNHCR confirmed a story reported by the Sudan Tribune yesterday about a woman that lost her two legs during the Monday aerial attack against Aru Sharow IDPs camp in West Darfur.

“Last night, seven refugees from West Darfur crossed the border into Chad carrying a 55-year-old woman who they said had lost both her legs during an alleged overnight bombing of Aro Sharow camp for internally displaced people (IDPs), north of Jebel Moon in West Darfur. The woman later died at Birak’s health centre.”

BAN KI-MOON SAYS UNACCEPTABLE ATTACKS AGAINST CIVILIANS

The UN Secretary General expressed concern over the renewal of violence in West Darfur. He described as “unacceptable attacks against civilians in Aru Sharow.

“In addition to putting the lives of innocent civilians at risk, the ongoing violence significantly reduces the humanitarian community’s access to those in need of life-saving assistance.”

Ban urged all parties to cease hostilities and to commit to the political process warning that “a negotiated settlement to the Darfur conflict cannot take place amid continuing violence and the massive displacement of civilians.”

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