Sudanese woman killed during aerial bombing in N. Darfur – rebels
April 29, 2008 (LONDON) — A woman was killed following the bombardment of a village in northern Darfur by a Sudanese army aircraft today, rebel groups said today.
“An Antonov of the Sudanese army has bombed the village of Helf, 60klm from Mellit, killing one woman — Asha Khatir — and wounding gravely a child of 12 years in his head” Justice and Equality Movement commander Osman Wash told Sudan Tribune on Tuesday morning.
Sudan Liberation Movement commander in North Darfur, Suleiman Jamous, confirmed the bombing saying that it lasted for three hours.
Both commanders stressed no rebel group has any presence in the attacked village.
Wash also said many animals (cattle and sheep) were killed indicating that there is important water well in the village.
However, Sudanese army denied the bombing.
The international community urged the Sudanese parties to stop violence in the troubled region in order to create conducive environment for the political process.
The UN and African union envoys to Darfur dedicated their fifth visit to Sudan this month for talks about violence in Darfur telling the warrant parties they cannot fight and prepare for peace talks at the same time. They also stressed that a reduction in violence is vital if progress is to be made on the political front.
JEM spokesperson Ahmed Hussein Adam said this attack against civilian population constitutes a grave violation to the international humanitarian law which prohibits indiscriminate attacks against civilians and civilian objects.
“Once again this attack demonstrates Khartoum real intentions to pursue its genocide in Darfur as they have no true desire to reach a negotiated solution for the conflict,” he said.
The rebel spokesperson said Khartoum sends delegations abroad in “public relations visits” where they speak about peace while they try to implement their military solution on the ground.
A delegation consisted of Sudanese foreign minister Deng Alor and presidential adviser Mustafa Osman Ismail held today talks with the British Prime Minister over Darfur peace talks and London proposal to host Darfur peace negotiations.
International experts estimate some 300,000 people have died in five years of war in Darfur, mostly from hunger and disease. Some 2.5 million people have been driven from their homes. Khartoum says only 10,000 have died.
(ST)