Sudan accuses Eritrea of planning attack on east – SMC

KHARTOUM, June 21, 2005 (Sudan Tribune) — The governor of Red Sea State eastern Sudan, Maj-Gen Rtd Hatim Al-Wasiylah, has condemned the attack carried out by the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and the eastern front on Dolib Yay post south of Tokar town along the eastern border .

Beja rebels strip their rifles on a rocky hill near the Eritrean border town of Rubda June 4, 2005. (Reuters).

The Eastern Front, a rebel alliance which includes the Beja Congress and the Free Lions movements, said it captured some 20 Sudanese soldiers as its forces advanced on the town of Tokar, south of the Red Sea city of Port Sudan.

Al-Wasiylah also denounced the plundering of markets and assault on civilians by the rebels when being repelled by government soldiers towards the Eritrean border.

Al-Wasiylah accused the Eritrean government of planning the operation which targeted the eastern region. In a statement to the Sudanese Media Centre (SMC) Al-Wasiylah said the attack by the rebels was aimed at interrupting the Cairo agreement signed on Saturday 18 June between the government and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the ongoing Abuja negotiations between the government and the armed movements in Darfur.

Al-Wasiylah said the movements are seizing these kind of opportunities to show that there is lack of security and stability in the region.

Al-Wasiylah revealed that the government would give the state 1.1 billion dollars to develop the region pointing out that no state in Sudan including Khartoum has ever been given the mentioned amount of money.

Al-Wasiylah said the aims and demands of the Beja Congress were to develop the east an issue which is being addressed by the government.

Compiled with material provided by the BBC Monitoring Service.