KHARTOUM: The Sudanese Army said it killed the leader of the main Darfur rebel group in fighting Sunday and touted his death as a key victory.The army said Khalil Ibrahim, who led the Darfur-based Justice and Equality Movement, or JEM, was killed during a military offensive in North Kordofan state to retaliate for a deadly rebel attack there on Saturday. JEM is the most organized and effective military force in Darfur, the western region torn by conflict since 2003. JEM did not join a peace deal signed last year between other Darfur rebel groups and Sudanese President Omar Bashir's government in Khartoum.
JEM representatives could not immediately be reached for comment. But if Ibrahim's death is confirmed, it would be a serious blow to JEM, which has on several occasions threatened to bring down Bashir's regime in Khartoum by advancing toward the capital.
An army statement carried by Sudan's official SUNA news agency said Ibrahim and several associates were killed in Wad Banda, about 700 km west of Khartoum in the North Kordofan region, which borders Darfur.
"The army cut all paths for the group as it was retreating and trying to cross into South Sudan to reorganize its forces," said Sudanese Army spokesman Col. Sawarmy Khaled. "Our gallant armed forces were able to kill rebel Khalil Ibrahim along with some of his associates."
Fighting in Wad Banda had flared up in the past few days. On Saturday, the Sudanese Army said Darfur rebels attacked three locations in neighboring North Kordofan, killing an unspecified number of civilians.
JEM has not claimed responsibility for the attack. However, in a dramatic push in 2008, hundreds of JEM fighters drove through the remote western region and attacked Khartoum's western outskirts. More recently, JEM spread its armed presence from Darfur into North Kordofan.