Sudan army suffers heavy causalities in Darfur Jebel Marra – rebels

September 7, 2008 (PARIS) – Darfur rebel commander said they inflicted heavy causalities on Sudanese army and its militiamen following intensive fighting on Saturday in western Darfur.

Suleiman Marjan, a leading commander in the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) of Abdel-Wahid Al-Nur told Sudan Tribune from Darfur that their troops in Al-Aaradib Alasharra, eastern Jebel Marra, inflicted heavy causalities on the Sudanese troops yesterday .

According to Marjan, SLA troops killed more than 200 soldiers and militiamen and wounded around 80 others. Also, the rebel commander says they detained 35 Prisoners of War. They further destroyed over 25 Land Cruisers and captured some other vehicules.

Yesterday, rebel movements said they clashed with the assailant army troops in different positions in northern and western Darfur. But the Sudanese army dismissed the accusations indicating they only target carjackers; protect roads, UNAMID and humanitarian convoys.

However, the AU-UN peacekeeping forces confirmed partly the attacks today in its daily bulletin saying the Sudanese troops attacked Disa and Bir Maza, 69 and 90 km north of Kutum.

The UNAMID said also the assailant targeted SLM-Abdel Wahid troops, as one of its commander, Ibrahim Hillu claimed yesterday. The SLM-Unity Command also says they clashed with the army in the same area.

The hybrid mission further spotted attack helicopters landing at Kutum airstrip, a convoy of 120 vehicles and trucks transporting heavy armed troops in the area of Malha.

But, Marjan said they are also monitoring closely the movement of government troops in the region.

Also asked about the denial of the Sudanese army spokesperson of Saturday’s offensives, he reaffirmed the assaults and urged the UNAMID to investigate their allegations about the large scale attack.

(ST)