Sudan army still attacking Darfur town – rebels

October 10, 2007 (KHARTOUM) — Sudan’s army still carring out attacks in southern Darfur Muhajiriya town where 45 people killed yesterday, Darfur rebel commander told Reuters today.

Rebels said militias mobilized by the government, known as Janjaweed, along with a small number of army soldiers were still burning villages around Muhajiriya on Wednesday.

“There are planes bombing in South Darfur,” said SLA Unity faction commander Abu Bakr Kadu. “The militias along with some government troops are attacking and burning civilian villages.”

But the army says it was not involved in Monday’s attack.

“What is happening in the Muhajiriya area is tribal clashes between the people of the area and has no relation with the Sudanese army which took no part in it,” it said in a statement issued late on Tuesday, its first public reaction.

Analysts say the upsurge in fighting ahead of talks due to begin in Libya on October 27 is a land grab to garner stronger negotiating positions.

Mostly non-Arab rebels took up arms in early 2003 accusing central government of neglect. Khartoum mobilized tribal militias to quell the revolt.

The U.S. embassy said it was withdrawing staff from Darfur.

“Given the deterioration in security conditions in Darfur, the U.S. embassy has decided to withdraw its personnel from Darfur until it is determined that the security situation warrants a return,” it said in a warden message.

The United Nations said rising tensions had restricted access for aid workers in Nyala, capital of South Darfur, so some staff were being encouraged to take leave over the upcoming Muslim Eid holiday.

There’s been upsurge of carjackings in and around Nyala, which was until recent weeks one of the safes towns in Darfur.

(From Reuters)