Ugandan rebel commander crosses back from Sudan

KAMPALA, May 12, 2004 (Xinhua) — The brigade commander of the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), Col. Charles Odhiambo, has fled from the offensive by the Ugandan government forces in southern Sudan and crossed into Uganda, local newspaper New Vision reported Wednesday.

It quoted Paddy Ankunda, spokesman of the Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF), as saying Tuesday in Gulu district in northern Uganda that Odhiambo crossed into Uganda last Thursday night through Ngomo-romo in Kitgum district, and is heading south to Palabek in the same district with 30 fighters and 60 abductees.

“We have resolved to kill Odhiambo. We have everything to ensure he will be killed,” the spokesman said.

Meanwhile, the UPDF said it killed seven rebels and captured 10 others in the battle in the Kilak hills and Pukony in Gulu on Monday evening.

The Sudan-based LRA rebels have been fighting 18-year-old war to topple the Ugandan government.

Since March this year the Ugandan government forces have been pursuing the rebels in southern Sudan after securing a green light from the Khartoum government.