Sudan air force bombs Darfur market: Chad

N’DJAMENA, June 4 (AFP) — The Sudanese air force bombed a market in Sudan’s western region of Darfur, a mediator in Chad trying to bring about an end to a conflict which has sparked a serious humanitarian crisis.

“This is another violation of the (April 8) ceasefire, at the moment when the African Union has begun deploying its observer mission” to the area, aimed at monitoring the hard-won deal, said the mediator, who declined to be named.

While he did not give any casualty figures in the bombardment, Ali Sugar, who heads the rebel Sudanese Liberation Movement (SLM), one of two groups involved in fighting in Darfur, spoke of “at least” 15 casualties.

“There are some casualites, at least 15, among them women and children,” he told AFP.

He said both an Antonov plane and two helicopters of Sudan’s air force had bombed the market in Tabet, in northern Darfur, around midday Friday when large crowds would have been there.

The mediator in Chad also said “inordinate Sudanese troop movements towards rebel positions” had been observed on Friday.

A rebellion broke out in Darfur in February 2003, and the Sudanese government and pro-Khartoum Arab militias known as Janjawids have been accused of killings and massive human rights abuses, which has left at least 10,000 dead and up to a million displaced.

The UN and the United States have both warned of a massive humanitarian crisis if the international community and aid groups do not intervene as soon as possible.

The SLM has previously accused Khartoum of bombing the same town on May 28, leaving at least 20 people dead.

AU ceasefire observers are expected to arrive in the impoverished Sudanese region on Saturday to begin their mission.

In total, some 120 observers from the AU, the European Union, the United States, the Sudanese government, the two rebel groups in Darfur and the mediation team from neighbouring Chad will be deployed in the region, according to the AU.