Darfur rebels say shot down two helicopters in Jebel Marra as army deny
March 28, 2010 (KHARTOUM) – The rebel Sudan Liberation Movement led by Abdel Wahid Al-Nur (SLM-AW) said today they shot down two helicopters in Jebel Marra, South Darfur, however the Sudanese army denied the rebel claim saying it was a technical failure.
Sudanese army had intensified air and ground attacks on the positions of SLM-AW who remains the sole rebel group out of the peace process. Thousands of civilians fled the area seeking humanitarian assistance in other parts of the restive region.
“Our troops near Kaloking, 18 klm from Kass in southern west area of Jebel Marra, South Darfur State, opened fire on four military helicopters yesterday Saturday. We successfully shot two one crashed near Mray Genkiah, north of Kass and the other near Toringa south of Kass.”
Speaking by Satellite telephone to Sudan Tribune from the region commander Al-Sadiq Rekero added the two choppers burnt totally.
He said they were looking for the pilots as the two planes crashed at 15 kilometers from the area where they shot the choppers.
The Justice and Equality Movement and the Liberation and Justice Movement signed ceasefire agreements with the government respectively in February and March in Doha, venue of the peace talks to end the seven year conflict.
In Khartoum the Sudanese army spokesperson Al-Soarmi Khalid Saad confirmed the incident but said they two planes crashed for technical malfunction.
The military official said the first helicopter fell due to technical failure as it was flying at low altitude while the second, which landed to rescue the crew of the first, caught fire after sand got into the engine, he said in a short statement to the official SUNA.
The hybrid peacekeeping force in Darfur did not release any statement about the incident.
The Sudanese warplanes participate regularly in attacks on rebel positions in Darfur violating U.N. Security Council resolutions banning offensive flying.
(ST)
Aduol Liet
Darfur rebels say shot down two helicopters in Jebel Marra as army deny
JEM Rebel.
Sudan government was been attacking your people in Darfuri Regions with warplanes and if you can find something to deal with them that will be great. Omar al Bashir and his SAF were painting the war Airplane with U.N. Color White to deceived people in Darfuri so that, the Darfurian people will says this is the U.N. Plane as they did and Khartoum troop killed many people at that time. It is just matter of misunderstanding among each other I am assuming if all Darfurian people stood with you all then, I guess the Sudan government will fallen sooner than later but keep up fighting because freedom is about your action against unjustice, unbalance and unqually treatment of citizens. Find something real good weapons to deal with these Arab in North Sudan, because these Arab they understand you very much when you kills them too. Sudan is the land of all Black African Tribes and we can not allow these Arab to take advantage on us absolutely no, we must revenge anythings they did to us and yes, we must kick their asss out in Sudan if this is what they wanted.
While on waiting Southern Sudan referendum on 01/09/2011. Darfurian people must be prepared to joint Southern Sudan this is how we kick them out in small North Sudan. The people of Darfurian Regions must not be worried the Map as Western Sudan, Ethiopian people have done it why is difficult for us to do. The Western of Ethiopia joined Southern Ethiopia, the Eastern Ethiopia Region joined Southern Ethiopia, the Central Ethiopia Region joined Southern Ethiopia and only Eritrea which is North Ethiopia got independence alone so the question is, what is wrong with Central Sudan Region and Western Sudan Region to joins Southern Sudan and gain her nation and let only North Sudan rule themselve.