Darfur rebels claim killing of 260 Sudanese soldiers
March 16, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudan Liberation Movement-Minni Minnawi (SLM-MM) said on Friday that it has killed some 260 Sudanese soldiers following clashes that took place in an area near Nyala, the capital of South Darfur state.
SLM-MM military spokesperson Saleh Adam Abakr said they clashed with the Sudanese army and its allied militias in Abga-Ragil, an area located some 10kms south of Nyala, where they crushed the assailants.
According to a statement the group extended to Sudan Tribune, there were 170 soldiers and 90 militiaman among the 260 people they killed during the fighting.
He said they also killed a militia leader called Ali Tirbo and captured the commander of forces sent to attack them.
Abakr added they captured 35 soldiers, destroyed two tanks and 14 vehicles.
The Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) spokesperson was not immediately available for comment.
According to the rebels, government forces had attempted to dislodge rebels from the area five times.
The SLM-MM is part of a rebel alliance, known as the Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF), that is fighting the Khartoum government in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states, as well as Darfur.
Recently, Khartoum said it had attained intelligence that rebels were planning to attack large towns in Blue Nile, South Kordofan and the five states of Darfur in Sudan’s western region.
(ST)