20110613
Xinhua
KHARTOUM, June 12 (Xinhua) -- The Sudanese army on Sunday refuted claims that its military planes were shot down in the South Kordofan State during the armed clashes last week.

"The allegations of the shooting down of military planes belonging to the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) in the region are totally untrue," said a statement issued by the Sudanese army on Sunday.

"The claims that there was a rebellion within some factions of the armed forces are also baseless. The SAF forces are intact and have contributed to the restoration of stability in the area," it said.

The SAF further expressed regret over claims by the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) that the Sudanese army has used excessive force in bombarding some areas, describing the condemnation as "unbalanced."

"The mission refused to condemn the party which initiated the aggression against the civilians, spread panic among the citizens and caused them to displace," the statement said.

The statement also said that the motorcade of South Kordofan State Governor Ahmed Haroun came under heavy fire on June 6 when it was ambushed by members of the Sudan people's Liberation Army ( SPLA) in a bid to kill him, adding that members of the SPLA have also killed many people in the area who belong to the National Congress Party (NCP).

An official of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) in the South Kordofan State said Saturday that the SPLA fighters have shot down two military planes belonging to the Sudanese army.