Sudan media reports rebel attack near AU base

KHARTOUM, March 29 (AFP) — The Khartoum media accused ethnic minority rebels in the war-wracked western Sudanese region of Darfur on Tuesday of abducting and beating up a schoolmistress near an African Union truce monitors’ base.

SLA rebels discuss with AU monitors.

The raid by around 20 rebels happened in the North Darfur state town of Kutum, the pro-government Sudanese Media Centre said.

The scene of the abduction in the town’s Kerkawe neighbourhood was just 300 metres (yards) from the AU base, the news agency charged.

The rebels let the woman go after the deployment of government troops from the nearby Um Kura military camp but only after “seriously beating her”, it added.

SMC did not identify the rebel group involved but most rebel activity in North Darfur is carried out by the mainly Zaghawa Justice and Equality Movement.

The launch of the rebel uprising two years ago prompted a scorched earth policy by the government that has given rise to a host of allegations of serious abuses, including the routine use of rape as a weapon.