US says no ‘conclusive’ evidence that Chad behind attack on Sudan capital

By Wasil Ali

May 15, 2008 (WASHINGTON) — The attack by Darfur Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) on the Sudanese capital this weekend may not have been masterminded by the Chadian government, a US official said today.

“It is difficult to pinpoint the motives behind JEM’s attack. Most likely they initiated it on their own” said the US official who spoke to Sudan Tribune on condition of anonymity.

“We condemn the attack and any actions that would undermine our efforts to bring an end to the conflict. This would include any retaliation or reprisal on the part of the Sudanese government” he added.

JEM rebels staged a bold attack last Saturday and fought fierce battles with the Sudanese army on the outskirts of the capital. However the Sudanese government repulsed the attack and accused Chad of backing the assault.

Al-Bashir said in a televised statement that he holds Chad responsible of the foiled attack by the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) troops against the Sudanese capital. He also announced that diplomatic relations with Chad have been broken.

Sudanese security officials said they recorded a meeting between Deby and JEM leaders prior to the assault on the twin city of Khartoum last Saturday. The foreign ministry briefed diplomatic missions this week on what they described as “evidence showing Chadian involvement”.

Last February Sudanese backed Chadian rebels stormed Ndjamena in a failed bid to oust President Idriss Deby.

“Our message to both sides was to stop supporting each other’s rebel group” the US official said.

The US special envoy to Sudan, Richard Williamson told a senate committee last month that Washington pressed Chad to stop their support of the JEM.

Williamson said that when JEM starts a military offensive the Sudanese government “responds in totally disproportionate way killing innocent civilians”.

Khartoum called on the international community to label JEM as a “terrorist organization” saying that the UN Security Council condemnation of the attack did not go far enough according to an unidentified Sudanese official who spoke to the daily Al-Hayat yesterday.

But the US official declined to comment on Khartoum’s request saying that Washington has “many criteria” that it uses before determining if a group should make it to the list of terrorists organizations.

International experts also say more than 300,000 were killed and 2 million have been driven from their homes by the conflict in Darfur, a region that is roughly the size of France.

(ST)