Darfur rebels shoot down army helicopter : Eritrean radio

ASMARA, Feb 12, 2004 (Sudan Tribune) — The secretary-general of the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM), Mr Mani Arkoi Minawi, has told the Eritrean News Agency that Darfur opposition forces have captured a military base and cut off all routes leading to Al-Fashir by rejecting the Sudanese government’s call to surrender.

He said yesterday the SLM forces shot down one armoured military helicopter of the Sudanese government and another helicopter was hit as well.

He said the real war was starting now, even if the government thought that the war was over.

This statement confirms another one made yesterday to Reuters by Khalid Ibrahim, leader of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) when he spoke for the first time about a joint military operation held by his troops and SLA forces.