JEM denies loss of 45 rebels in North Darfur clashes

June 3, 2012 (KHARTOUM) – The rebel Justice and Equality Movement denied statements by the Sudanese army over the death of 45 rebels during an attack they carried out in North Darfur state last Saturday.

Al-Sawarmi Khaled, the spokesperson of the Sudanese army said they repelled an attack on Fataha village, North Darfur state, where the rebels assaulted the market and attacked a small military garrison.

JEM military spokesperson, Badawi Moussa Al-Sakin, said they captured the garrison and seized 15 armoured and transport vehicles.

“JEM lost three soldiers in the operation,” the rebel official stressed. He did not mention the casualties among the government troops.

Darfur main rebel groups, which reject a peace document Khartoum signed with the Liberation and Equality Movement (LJM), formed last November an alliance with the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement- North (SPLM-N). Khartoum accuses South Sudan of backing the alliance.

The Sudan revolutionary Front (SRF) says it aims to remove the regime of the National Congress Party in Khartoum and to establish a democratic and secular state in Sudan. The four rebel groups including JEM, however, ask for a comprehensive process to discuss all the problems of the country.

Badawi further said they crushed, four days ago, a small force belonging to the Popular Defence Force (PDF) militias at Kordofan-Darfur border.

“The PDF unit lost its entire force of six vehicles together with their commander,” he said.

Sudanese army is massing troops and militias along the border with South Sudan to prevent Darfur rebels, allegedly based in South Sudan, from returning to Darfur.

(ST)