LONDON — China is training Sudanese Air Force pilots to fly fighter-jets, according to a report by British Broadcasting Corp.

The BBC, in a broadcast on July 14, reported that Beijing was training the Sudanese Air Force to fly the Nanchang Q5, or Fantan, fighter-jet, Middle East Newsline reported. The Fantan, deployed in the war-torn Darfour province, was said to have been delivered to Sudan in 2003.

The television report broadcast satellite photographs of two Fantan fighters at Nyala airport in southern Darfour. The photographs were said to have been taken on June 18, 2008.

China, the leading oil client of Khartoum, has acknowledged arms exports to Sudan. But Beijing said its arms sales comprised a small amount of equipment and was limited to the Khartoum government.

The BBC's Panorama program also reported Chinese air defense systems and the Dong Feng military truck in Darfour. The truck was said to have been captured by the rebel Justice and Equality Movement in December 2007.

The war in Darfour as well as a decision by the International Criminal Court to arrest Sudanese President Omar Bashir has prompted a withdrawal by the United Nations. The UN has deployed 2,700 troops in Darfour. Another 10,000 UN troops were monitoring a peace agreement in southern Sudan.

"The situation is very serious and very dangerous," Arab League secretary-general Amr Mussa said. "At the same time, we are not convinced that the steps taken [by] the criminal court were well considered."

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