Sudan

Government forces accused of village attacks

Article published on the 2008-09-14 Latest update 2008-09-14 15:54 TU

Ryad camp in south Sudan
Photo: Olivier Rogez/RFI

In Sudan's Darfur region, rebel fighters on Sunday accused government forces of burning villages and destroying a health clinic. The rebels said fighting erupted on Friday in north Darfur and that more than 100 vehicles were involved in the clashes.

Abu Bakr Kadu of the SLA-Unity faction said the hospital of Khazan Tungur was destroyed during the fighting and claimed that government forces had burnt the village itself along with the villages of Tarny and Hijaj

Sudan specialist Eric Reeves said the attacks were "a sign that Khartoum is not at all committed to the Ramadan truce ceasefire that it publicly committed itself to." He said it showed there was "no attempt to ratchet down violence in Darfur."

 

Also on Sunday the leader of the separate SLA faction, Minni Minnawi, said his forces had been attacked in the east Jebel Marra region by the forces of the ruling National Congress Party. Minnawi said four of his faction's forces had been killed but that the government forces had now returned to the capital of northern Darfur, El-Fasher.

Meanwhile in Khartoum the trial of 19 people accused of being Darfur rebels was adjourned after six of the defendants claimed to be minors. The judge ordered medical opinions on the age of the six people. The trial is due to resume on 8 October.

Sudan's use of special courts to try alleged rebels has been criticised by Amnesty International.