Renewed Fighting in Darfur

UN Checks Charges Of Government Bombing In Renewed Darfur Fighting

New York, Nov 24 2008 6:10PM

The joint United Nations-African Union mission in Darfur (UNAMID) has sent a team to verify allegations by the Sudan Liberation Army/Movement (SLA/M) of Government attacks on a village in South Darfur province following reports of renewed fighting in the war-torn region.

The team met the local SLA Commander who led then to the site where camels were allegedly stolen and children abducted in the attack on Abu Dengal, about 125 kilometres southeast of Nyala. The team was also taken to a site where four craters, two showing signs of explosions and another two containing unexploded bombs, were observed.

Local residents, contending this was the result of bombings by the Government, said there was unexploded ordnance in the village and requested UNAMID help in disposing of the devices.

UNAMID has also received indicating that Government Central Reserve Police has allegedly attacked a village held by a faction of the SLA. The rebel group reported that three people were killed and several injured in yesterday’s attack on Um Martei, some 30 kilometres southeast of Dar es Salaam-Waddah.

When contacted by UNAMID, the Government liaison officer denied the allegation, which will be verified by UNAMID.

Last week Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged all sides to refrain from hostilities following reports of renewed fighting between rebels and Government forces in a conflict that has killed an estimated 300,000 people over the past five years and driven another 2.7 million from their homes.

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