Sudan accuses Chad of Darfur air raids

KHARTOUM, SUDAN - Jul 17 2009 10:45

Sudan accused Chad on Thursday of launching air raids on its western region of Darfur, an area believed to be the base of Chadian opposition rebels, state media reported.

The Sudan Media Centre website, which is considered close to the intelligence services, reported that two Chadian planes had raided the Umm Dukhun area of Western Darfur on Thursday.

The website, quoting senior military officials, said there were no causalities but that the Sudanese army was on "standby" and waiting for "the green light for retaliation".

The report was not possible to verify independently.

In May, Chadian insurgents from Sudan launched an offensive against Ndjamena, but Chad's army forced them back to west Sudan, where they are based.

Meanwhile, the Chadian rebel Union of Forces of Resistance (UFR) claimed the Chadian air force attacked two villages in the south-eastern Chadian region of Tissi on Thursday morning, across the border from Western Darfur.

"This attack has caused killing of many civilians and resulted in the wounding of many others," said the statement, issued in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, where the group has representatives.

The reported attack was not possible to independently confirm, but rebels claimed about 50 had been killed 100 wounded.

"The wounded civilians were brought to UFR camps and are undergoing medical treatment," the statement added, from UFR secretary Adoum Yacoub Kougou.

CONTINUES BELOW

Click here

Chad has accused Sudan of supporting rebels seeking to oust President Idriss Déby Itno, while Khartoum has charged Ndjamena with backing ethnic minority rebels in Darfur. -- Sap-AFP

TOPICS IN THIS ARTICLE

Sudan accuses Chad of Darfur air raids

Related Articles

Tags

IN THIS WEEK'S PAPER

Advertisements

Sponsored links