A group calling itself the Sudan Liberation Army Movement has claimed a number of attacks in the Darfur region since it surfaced for the first time in February. But the government has refused to acknowledge any political motivation for unrest in the states of North, South and West Darfur, blaming it instead on âarmed criminal gangs and outlaws,â who it says are aided by tribes from neighboring Chad.
| And that could be an accurate description... |
Meanwhile, Sudan Liberation Movement rebels killed 500 Sudanese government troops and took 300 of them prisoner during fighting Thursday in western Sudanâs North Darfur State, a rebel leader said. âWe totally destroyed an infantry battalion moving in the area and we caused 500 deaths and took 300 prisoners during an ambush Thursday north of the city of Kutum,â SLM secretary-general Mani Arkoi Minawi told AFP.
| If that's a true statement, Sudan's in trouble. Those aren't piddlin' casualties... |
There was no immediate comment from the Sudanese government authorities and no way to independently verify the claim. The SLM forces destroyed seven four-wheel drive vehicles and three trucks, Minawi added.
| That's in line with a much lower body count, unless most of those 800 traveling shoe-leather express... |
âSudanese Minister of Education Ahmed Babikir Nahar contacted us two days ago to communicate to us the governmentâs will to negotiate,â Minawi said. |