Army bombarded Darfur rebels inside Sudanese territory – spokesperson

July 21, 2012 (KHARTOUM) — Sudan’s negotiating team denied that its army carried out a fresh aerial attack yesterday in South Sudan, stressing that its army was pursuing Darfur rebels inside Sudanese territory.

South Sudan accused the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) of bombing Rumaker locality, north-west of Aweil town, capital of Northern Bahr el Ghazal State where two people were injured, local officials told Sudan Tribune.

Rebels belonging to the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) attempted to launch an attack through the South Sudanese territory, but the army dealt with them inside Sudan, said the spokesperson of the Sudanese delegation, Omer Dahab, in a statement to the official SUNA on Saturday morning.

“SAF did not penetrate inside the South Sudanese territory,” he emphasised.

Khartoum and Juba agreed to establish a demilitarised zone along their common border, but the Sudanese government refuses a plan proposed by the AU mediation to line it.

The official spokesperson further said Sudan reaffirmed, in a recent statement, its readiness to defend its territory. He also stressed the willingness of the Sudanese delegation to resume direct talks.

The two delegations opted in a deal, reached on 7 July, to carry out negotiations without mediation, as the AU team is criticised by both sides.

Atif Kiir, the spokesperson of the South Sudanese delegation, told Al-Jazeera TV that they are no longer ready to continue direct talks with the Khartoum team and demanded to return to the discussions in the presence of the mediation.

The parties said they are committed to reach a comprehensive agreement before the deadline of 2 August fixed by the UN Security Council in its resolution 2046.

(ST)