Darfur rebel leader killed: sources

December 24, 2011 (KHARTOUM) – The leader of the Darfur Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) Khalil Ibrahim has been killed; multiple well-placed sources tell Sudan Tribune.

It is understood that JEM will issue a statement confirming the demise of its leader as early as Sunday.

Earlier today, the spokesperson of the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) Al-Sawarmi Khalid Sa’ad announced to Qatar-based Al-Jazeera TV that Ibrahim was killed along with his senior commanders during the ongoing battles in Kordofan.

The rebel leader was allegedly on his way to South Sudan.

On Saturday the Sudanese authorities acknowledged that JEM has launched wide scale attacks for the second day in remote areas on the borders of North Kordofan state and North Darfur.

The governor of North Darfur Osman Kibir had said that JEM attacked 20 villages and carried out killing and looting among ordinary citizens.

(ST)