Sudan’s army SPLM-N clash in South Kordofan

September 1, 2012 (KHARTOUM) — Sudan’s Army repelled a new attack by the rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Movement North (SPLM-N) in northeast South Kordofan last Thursday, the military said in a statement released on Saturday.

Al-Sawarmi Khalid, spokesperson of Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) said that SPLM-N fighters attacked a military warning station tasked with the protection of Rashad area in South Kordofan.

He said that the army repulsed an assault by the rebels who attacked the position at 01.30 am (local time). SAF inflected losses on the rebels who fled leaving a Kalashnikov, and some ammunition, he added.

Yesterday the rebel group told Reuters they attacked a military camp in Rashad where they killed four solders and captured military equipment and ammunition on Wednesday.

Al-Sawarni in his statement did not speak about SAF’s losses but said rebels planted an anti-vehicle mine on the road at four kilometres from Rashad where it hit a civilian vehicle and injured several people on Friday.

The spokesperson went further to deny rebel statements about the death of four Sudanese solders describing it as “lies disseminated by [the SPLM-N] to raise the morale of rebel fighters and spread confusion and instability.”

The rebel group in statements to Al-Jazeera said Thursday’s attack was a reprisal to an assault government troops carried on Alhutah village where SAF is accused of burning and looting civilians’ houses there.

SAF’s spokesperson also dismissed these allegations saying the military operation was part of a failed attempt to attack on Al-Mureib area.

Sudanese government and the rebels are to meet this week in Addis Ababa to hold humanitarian and political talks in line with the resolution 2046, which demanded the two parties engage in talks on the basis of the framework agreement signed on 28 June 2011 before it was rejected by the Sudanese president.

The SPLM-N urged the international community to deliver humanitarian assistance to civilians in rebel held areas through South Sudan and Ethiopia accusing Sudan of hampering the humanitarian access.

The delay the humanitarian operation is expected to prevent any progress in the political process.

The UN Security Council on Friday urged the Sudanese government and the SPLM-N to abide by the terms of the resolution and reach a peace agreement based on the 28 June framework.

The Council also urged the two parties to ” to fully and faithfully implement its terms to expedite the unhindered delivery of this assistance as rapidly as possible.”

(ST)