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Civilians killed in clashes, Sudan says
(AP)
Updated: 2005-10-18 11:06
Rebels and Sudanese forces have clashed in North Darfur with artillery fire
killing a number of civilians, the Sudanese government said Monday.
The African Union, which is monitoring a shaky cease-fire deal between rebels
and the government in the crisis-wracked Darfur region, said rebels attack
attacked an army outpost early Sunday, which was followed by "heavy bombardment"
apparently from Sudanese soldiers.
The fighting took place southeast of the town of Kutum before Sudanese
soldiers chased the rebel fighters from the Sudan Liberation Army into the
nearby villages of Kenin and Nadi, the AU said in a statement.
But the Sudanese government accused "a group of armed movements in Darfur (of
launching) waves of indiscriminate shelling" on Kutum, which resulted in "human
and material damage" on Sunday and Saturday.
"The outcome was the death and injury of a group of children, women and
elderly citizens," said a statement issued by a Sudanese government delegation
at Darfur peace talks in the Nigerian capital, Abuja. No casualty figures were
provided.
The delegation said the rebel attack breached all peace agreements aimed at
curbing the Darfur conflict, which began in February 2003. The United Nations
estimates the fighting has resulted in the deaths of more than 180,000 people
through violence, disease or malnutrition.
The AU also condemned the violence and urged restraint and cooperation from
the warring sides to help it investigate the incident.
The United Nations, also concerned about the worsening violence, last week
ordered all nonessential staff out of West Darfur following a spike in attacks
and kidnappings.
The Darfur conflict started after the two non-Arab rebel groups took up arms
against the Arab-dominated government to win more political and economic rights
for the region's African tribes.
Sudan's Arab government is accused of responding by backing Janjaweed
militiamen who have carried out rapes and killings against Sudanese of African
origin. The government denies backing the Janjaweed.
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