Darfur rebels say Sudanese plane bombed Jabal Moon area

July 19, 2008 (LONDON) — Sudan air force yesterday bombed the village of Serf close to Jabal Moon area killing one civilian and injured a child, the Justice and Equality Movement said today.

Ali Alwafi, JEM military spokesperson said an Antanov plane attacked the village of Serf in Jabal Moon area in West Darfur on Friday morning at 10.30 and dropped more than 20 bombs.

He further said that Abdel Nabi Ali Abdel Nabi, the village Chief was killed and injured a four-year old child gravely.

Alwafi said the village was empty from any rebel presence. “There were no Movement fighters in the area at the time of the attack.”

The rebel official added “a score of grass cottages in the village went on fire.”

Located near the border with Chad, Jabal Moon was the theatre of fierce fighting between the Sudanese troops and the rebel groups since the end of last year due to its strategic position in the remote area near the border with Chad.

Since February this year, the Sudanese army said it had cleared the area from the rebel presence. However the fighting between the government troops and the rebels continued in Jabal Moon.

Khartoum says that JEM troops are currently located inside the Chadian territory near the border since the 10 May attack and fears to see them back to the area.

JEM on the other hand says Khartoum is keen to put its hands on Jabal Moon, of the Massalit ethnic group because the Chadian rebels can infiltrate into Chad easily.

(ST)