Rebels accuse Sudanese pro-government militias of killing 81 civilians

CAIRO, Sept 14 (AFP) — The rebel movement in western Sudan charged Sunday that pro-government militias had killed 81 civilians in the past two days as well having “systematically violated” an eight-day truce.

In a telephone call to AFP in Cairo, Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) secretary general Mani Arkoi Minawi accused the Sudanese government of having “systematically and daily violated the truce” since it took effect September 6.

Seventy-five civilians were killed Friday when militiamen allied to the government launched an attack against residents of Khashaba, in the north of Kuttum province, Minawi said.

Sixteen shepherds were killed Saturday when pro-government militiamen launched another attack in the area of Abu Leiha, he added.

“The SLM demands an investigation and the dispatch of international observers in Darfur to monitor the implementation of the truce,” Minawi said.

The SLM leader on September 8 accused government helicopters of hitting SLM positions in two raids, killing two rebels and wounding four others.

A conflict has raged since February in Sudan’s western Darfur region, where the SLM say they are fighting for an end to marginalization and neglect of the large, impoverished region by central authorities.

SLM leaders say hundreds of civilians have been killed in the fighting.

On September 3, the Sudanese government and the SLM signed a six-week ceasefire at a meeting in Chad.

The SLM is not included in the framework of peace talks aimed at ending Khartoum’s 20-year-old civil war between the government and the southern rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Army.