Sudan military says it repelled JEM attack as Qatar peace talks continue

February 13, 2009 (KHARTOUM) — The Sudanese army today claimed that it repulsed an attack by the Darfur Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) in West Darfur area of Jabal Marra.

The army spokesperson Brigadier General Osman Al-Agbash said that they have inflicted heavy casualties on JEM forces and destroyed 14 armed vehicles while they lost 4 soldiers with 3 injured.

He also described statements by JEM leader Khalil Ibrahim as “empty propaganda” that is aimed at strengthening his position at the negotiation underway in the Arab Gulf State of Qatar with the Sudanese government.

This week JEM accused the Sudan Armed Forces of initiating an assault against its troops. But Khartoum said that no truce between the two sides has been signed yet.

“The offensive was easily and summarily defeated, despite use of 2 Antonov planes, 2 MIG 29 fighters and 6 tanks, two captured, three destroyed and one escaped” said Ali Al-Wafi, the JEM military spokesperson.

Al-Wafi further added they captured Col. Hamid Ahmed, the deputy commander of the assailing force.

JEM spokesperson Ahmed Hussein from Doha where the rebel group negotiating with the government denounced the attack saying it demonstrates the lack of government seriousness for peace in Darfur.

The talks hosted by Qatar are the first such one-on-one meeting between the Sudanese government and JEM. It was also the first round of peace talks between any rebels and the government since the ones held in October 2007 in Libya.

UN experts estimate some 300,000 people have died and 2.5 million driven from their homes. Sudan blames the Western media for exaggerating the conflict and puts the death toll at 10,000.

(ST)