/ 20 November 2001

SUDANESE REBELS KILL 100 GOVT SOLDIERS

Sudanese rebels killed 100 Sudanese government soldiers on Sunday when they ambushed and destroyed their convoy in the oil-rich region of Farink-Higlieg, the rebels said in a statement on Tuesday. The rebels of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) “laid an ambush for a government convoy in this region and killed 100 Sudanese government troops,” SPLA representative Yasser Arman said in the statement, Two government helicopters supporting ground troops were also hit in the battle, the statement sent from the Ethiopian capital Asmara added. The rebels also captured equipment from the government troops. The SPLA renewed its warning that “oil regions are legitimate military targets and urged oil companies to withdraw from them,” it said. – AFP