Sudanese army denies Darfur rebels claim of downing plane

December 28, 2007 (KHARTOUM) — The Sudanese army on Friday denied that Darfur rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) had shot down a government aircraft in West Darfur.

JEM leader Khalil Ibrahim said Thursday that his troops hit an Antonov plane as it flew over Geneina, the capital of West Darfur state which rebels claim to have surrounded, but that it went down near south Darfur’s main town of Nyala.

“This is just false information,” armed forces spokesman General Osman al-Aghbach told the Sudanese Media Centre news agency which is close to Sudanese intelligence services.

He added that the rebels “are seeking political gain by putting out sensational information,” referring to JEM leader statements where he declared Darfur a no fly zone urging commercial, humanitarian and peacekeeping plans to request a prior authorisation from his group.

The JEM leader said this applied to “government aviation including commercial flights and we ask that organisations like the United Nations inform us in advance of their flight plans so that they are not targeted.”

“We don’t want to victimise anyone but we are targeting the government who are using civilian aircraft for their operations.” H underscored.

The United Nations has reported that the government has used white aircraft for offensive operations in Darfur, a move which was condemned by the world body. White is the universal colour for humanitarian or peacekeeping aircraft and distinguishes them from combatants.

The Darfur conflict erupted in February 2003 when ethnic minority rebels rose up against Khartoum to demand an end to the political and economic marginalisation of their huge region the size of France.

(ST)