Sudan dismissed yesterday as âunfoundedâ claims by rebels that it carried out an aerial bombing campaign in eastern Red Sea state that resulted in many civilian casualties. | "Nope. Nope. Wudn't us." |
The groups, which attacked government positions south of Port Sudan on Sunday and claim to have made significant advances since, said the bombing began in the Barka Valley on Thursday. They added that it resulted in a large but unknown number of civilian casualties who filled hospitals in Port Sudan and the town of Tokar, 120 kilometers south. A Sudanese military spokesman acknowledged that troops were active in the area, but insisted that the operation was aimed at combing the region and âpursuing remnants of rebel forces that had attacked Doleib Yai in Tokar.â The Eastern Front was created only in February by eastern Sudanâs two main dissident factions, the Beja Congress and Free Lions. It launched its first major military operation against the government on Sunday near Tokar. Both the eastern and western groups claim their regions are being marginalized by the Arab-dominated government in Khartoum. The government accuses Asmara of providing military support to the rebels, charges Eritrea denies. The new fighting has sparked fears that a second Darfur-type conflict will open up in Sudan even as peace talks between the western rebels and Khartoum are under way in Nigeria.