Twelve dead as Sudan rebels capture town

Twelve people were killed, including two women, as rebels from the war-torn region of Darfur seized a town in central Sudan, officials said on Tuesday.

The Sudanese army said the town of Hamrat al-Sheikh in North Kordofan province was attacked on Monday by forces linked to the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM).

Residents fled as police and security forces, backed by air support, joined forces to repel the attack, it said in a statement.

Fighting was “going on till late on Monday night to liberate the town from the armed men”.

Provincial governor Faisal Hassan Ibrahim told reporters by telephone that eight police officers, two security men and two women were killed in the fighting, during which several public buildings were destroyed.

The rebels attacked the town with 50 trucks armed with heavy weapons, some of which were posted outside Hamrat al-Sheikh to seal it off, he said.—Sapa-AFP