SPLM-N rebels launch fresh attacks in S. Kordofan, as UN say Ethiopian peacekeeper was killed
June 14, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan People’s Liberation Movement North (SPLM-N) said they captured a locality, west of the capital of South Kordofan Kadugli, while the United Nations announced that an Ethiopian peacekeeper was killed during a mortar attack the rebels carried on the town.
Lodi further said they shot down a Mig jet-fighter, adding it crashed in the government controlled areas.
He pointed out that their forces are advancing towards the state capital.
However, the Sudanese army did not yet issue any statement about the fighting. Also the spokesperson office was not reachable due to the weekend holiday.
The rebel spokesperson said they shelled a military base at Kadugli airport calling on the civilians to move away from “military targets”.
In New York, UN chief Ban Ki-Moon condemned in “the strongest terms” the shelling of a logistics base, located near Kadugli airport, of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA).
A statement released by the office of the spokesperson for the UN secretary general also said that one Ethiopian peacekeeper was killed and two more were injured as a result of the shelling.
UN chief “expresses his condolences to the family of the fallen peacekeeper and to the Government of Ethiopia”.
Ban further urged the Sudanese government and SPLM-N rebels “to immediately suspend hostilities and resume ceasefire negotiations to end the conflict in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile States”.
Nafei Ali Nafie, presidential assistant told Khartoum’s legislators they had intelligence that the rebels plan to capture Kaduglei and El-Fasher of North Darfur and Al-Obeid of North Kordofan. But he asserted they are ready to confront them.
(ST)