Two killed in rocket attack on S. Kordofan capital: governor

November 19, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – At least 2 people were killed and 4 others injured in a rocket attack launched by the rebel Sudanese People’s Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N) on South Kordofan state capital of Kadugli on Tuesday.

The governor of South Kordofan state, Adam Al-Faki, who inspected the affected areas, said that the shelling targeted civilian houses and schools, pointing that no military position was targeted.

He added that the government is capable of ending rebellion and imposing peace by force, accusing the SPLM-N of killing innocent civilians and targeting schools.

Al-Faki also said that the shelling underscores the SPLM-N rejection for the government’s appeals for dialogue and to end the two year conflict in the state.

The SPLM-N accused Tuesday the Sudanese army of bombarding Buram county saying two children were killed on Sunday.

The SPLM-N did not issue a statement confirming Tuesday’s mortar attack. The rebel group in the past used to launch similar rocket attacks on the capital of South Kordofan in relation to air raids on rebel areas in the Nuba Mountains.

Meanwhile, the ruling National Congress Party’s (NCP) organizational secretary, Hamid Siddig, warned his party leaders of possible assassination attempts by the rebel Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF), calling upon citizens to join the Popular Defense Forces (PDF).

He denied that the existence of a fifth column among the NCP members and pointed that all NCP members defend their civilization project, demanding them to protect themselves, their leaders, and ordinary citizens.

Since 2011 the SPLM-N have fought the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and their aligned militia the PDF in South Kordofan state.

Last week, the Sudanese defence minister, Abdel-Rahim Mohamed Hussein, announced the beginning of the summer military operations which aims to end rebellion in Darfur, South Kordofan, and Blue Nile.

(ST)