20110123
reuters

Khartoum — Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) on Friday said it clashed during four hours with armed groups in North Darfur killing 13 rebels.

A Sudanese army unity was ambushed by rebels from the Justice and Equality Movement and Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) led by Minni Minnawi in Nyala El-Fasher road between Menwashi and Kednir on Thursday evening, said SAF spokesperson Al-Sawarmi Khalid

The army killed 13 rebels and lost eight soldiers, he added.

Abubakr Hamid, JEM Secretary for Administration and Organization, told Sudan Tribune on Saturday by satellite telephone from Darfur that their troupes in the area defeated the army and a statement would be soon issued on the battle.

The rebel commander further said they captured several vehicles, stressing that all the "forces of resistance" from JEM, SLA-Minnawi and SLA Abdel Wahid Al-Nur took part in the fight.

He also said the attack is part of government strategy put out by the defense minister Abdel Rahim Hussein during a meeting he held in El-Geneina, capital of West Darfur on 19 January.

Abubakr said the minister, according to information they received, directed to recruit additional tribal militia to fight the rebels. Abdel Rahim also demanded that the governors to exert more efforts to attract and lure rebels, he added.

Sudanese government walked out of the peace process in Doha last December asking the mediators to finalze a peace deal but pointed out it has no more to add in the discussions with the rebel Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM).

The government said it can continue consultations with the mediation on the peace deal and a cessation of hostilities agreement with the rebel JEM through the Shuttle diplomacy.