Darfur JEM chief safe after leading assault on capital: rebels

May 11, 2008 (LONDON) — The leader of a Darfur Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) is safe after leading a lightning attack on the Sudanese capital, a senior rebel official said today.

“I can confirm to you in no uncertain terms that Dr. Ibrahim is now with his people in Darfur carrying out his responsibilities of leading the movement” Ahmed Hussein spokesperson of JEM told Sudan Tribune by phone.

“The government’s [Sudanese] story of his injury and cornering him is false. This is all hysteria from the mental shock they received after our operation” he said.

However the JEM official declined to provide details on when Ibrahim was able to make it to Darfur following a massive security search operation for him in the capital’s twin city of Omdurman.

Sudan TV broadcasted a photo of JEM leader asking citizens to call a special hotline if they saw him. The government also announced a reward of $125,000 for information leading to his capture.

Residents of the Sudanese capital have been circulating numerous and conflicting rumors yesterday about the capture of JEM chief and attributing it to various security officials. Some went as far as saying that he was already captured or killed.

The Al-Arabiya TV broadcasting from Dubai reported that Ibrahim has been captured.

The Sudanese authorities said that JEM top man escaped his vehicle after receiving a direct hit during the fighting.

The JEM spokesperson said that Ibrahim will speak to the media from Darfur “very soon”.

SUCCESSFUL ATTACK

Hussein said that JEM forces carried out “a very brave and historical operation inside Khartoum”.

“This sends a strong message to the regime whose president said publicly that he doesn’t want any POW’s or injured in Al-Fasher [capital city of North Darfur]. He is also the same person who said that they took power by force and who wants it back he should try doing it by force” he added.

Hundreds of rebels from war-ravaged Darfur clashed with Sudanese security forces on the doorstep of the capital Saturday in a dramatic widening of the five-year-old conflict.

TV footages showed pictures of burnt vehicles and dead bodies including that of the right-hand man to JEM leader named Jamali Hassan Jelaladin. It also showed corpses of the alleged operation leader Mohamed Jarbo and his intelligence chief Mohamed Nur Al-Deen.

However JEM spokesperson said that there are no officials with the name of Jarbo and Al-Deen in their ranks. He also said that Jelaladin’s was arrested by Sudanese security after his vehicle broke down and “subsequently shot him”.

Hussein said that the attack will “have a positive impact on the political will of the ruling party for a comprehensive peace and democratic transformation. The legend that their army is unbeatable is no longer true”.

He further said that the rebel group was able to strike fighter jets at a military base in northern Omdurman “used to attack Darfur”.

“We avoided fighting our way towards the radio and TV stations because we are committed to avoiding civilian casualties unlike the regime who killed some of our POW’s” he added.

AL-Bashir said in a televised statement that he holds Chad responsible of the foiled attack by JEM troops against the Sudanese capital. He also announced that diplomatic relations with Chad have been broken.

(ST)