Sudan says Chadian troops support Darfur rebels

April 8, 2008(KHARTOUM) — Presidential Assistant, Nafi Ali Nafi, said Sudan is ready to counter any Chadian invasion supportive to the rebel Justice and Equality Movement.

Nafi said there is no fighting between the government army and any of the rebel movements in Darfur except with “Khalil Ibrahim’s movement which is fighting with the support of Chadian troops.” He further reaffirmed the readiness of the army troops to confront it.

The chef of the Sudanese government delegation to Darfur peace talks was speaking to the press following a meeting with the UN and AU envoys to Darfur who are visiting the country.

Nafi stressed the stability of the security situation in Darfur except isolated gangs attacking relief materials and humanitarian workers.

He also claimed that part of these gangs belongs to the rebel groups opposed to the Darfur peace agreement saying that a number of the looted vehicles are in the Chadian capital N’Djamena now.

While Chad and Sudan accuse each other of backing rebel groups in both countries, the Chadian rebels and the Sudanese rebels also trade accusations of supporting the governments ruling in Khartoum and N’Djamena.

Also, President Idriss Deby describes as “mercenaries” of Sudanese government, the rebel groups which try regularly to topple his regime.

(ST)