Sudanese army denies attacks in Darfur
September 6, 2008 (KHARTOUM) — Sudanese army today has denied, this evening, statements about attacks against rebel positions in northern Darfur.
Darfur rebel movements said government troops and militias Saturday attacked their position and the civilians in northern and western Darfur. They also said four helicopter gunships and two Antonov were involved in the deadly attacks.
The Sudanese army spokesperson, Osman Mohamed Al-Aghbash, told the pro-dominant party, told the SMC, which is close to the intelligence services, that the army didn’t launch any military operation in the three states of Darfur.
Al-Aghbash further said that the role of the armed forces is currently limited to securing the roads and protecting vehicles after repeated incidents of carjacking and ambushes by rebel movements against aid workers and UNAMID.
He stressed that the armed forces only doing their duty, noting that some rebel movements taken from the area of Bir Maza the starting point for what he termed “terrorist acts”
The Sudanese army denies often military operation in Darfur.
But the hybrid peacekeeping force in Darfur said checking the rebel reports. However a UNAMID spokesperson told Reuters that government attack helicopters had been seen taking off and landing during the day at Kutum.
The Al-Aghbash spoke only about Bir Maza, which is near Disa and Kutum. However he didn’t elaborate about rebel accusations of attack in Jebel Marra, in western Darfur or other area in the large northern Darfur.
(ST)