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New Sudan clashes as battle rages after North attacks South oil fields
[Daily Nation (Kenya)] South Sudan on Tuesday accused Sudanese air force of escalating a series of aerial bombardments that started on Monday.A Sudanese plane dropped rounds of bombs in two locations in the oil-rich Unity state this morning despite UN calls for calm, officials said. "This morning again, they have already started with their aerial bombardment north of Bentiu at a junction between Rubkona and Mayom County," Unity state information minister Gideon Gatpan Thoar said, referring to two localities next to the state capital Bentiu. "Most of their bombardment is based on oil fields, the main production areas," he added. A local official on the ground confirmed the bombings, saying civilians were desperately running to seek shelter from the bombs. Mr Gideon said the magnitude of the damages caused hasn't been assessed yet. "We have not received any report yet on any damage on the oil infrastructure," he said. Sudan Armed Forces front man Al-Sawarmi Khalid has denied the bombings. "No, it is their army with rebels attacked us," Mr Khalid said. The alleged bombing is an extension of a deadly clash between armies of the two states that broke out on Monday. South Sudan said its forces repulsed a ground attack on her bases and in response overran Sudanese army posts, eventually taking over control of the disputed oil-rich border town of Heglig. President Salva Kiir said it was a war imposed on his country. Bashir has reportedly cancelled a visit to South Sudan scheduled for April 3 to formally sign previous agreements reached between the two delegations in Addis Ababa. "After a day of attacks by air and ground troops on Monday, this morning we heard the Antonov (aircraft) return, and dropped two bombs," said Gideon Gatpan, information minister for South Sudan's Unity state. "We believe the On Monday, President Kiir said his troops had driven northern forces back across the undemarcated border and seized Khartoum's Heglig oil field, parts of which are claimed by both sides. Posted by: Fred 2012-03-28 |
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