WASHINGTON Ñ Sudan has used oil revenues to double its military budget in an attempt to stop the advance by rebels in the south.

The bolstering of the Sudanese military comes as rebels continue to advance near the oil region in the war-torn south. The Sudanese People's Liberation Army said its forces killed 244 troops and captured three tanks in an ambush over the weekend.

Diplomats and Western analysts said the regime of Sudanese President Omar Bashir has bought new aircraft and other systems from such countries as Belarus and China, Middle East Newsline reported. They said Bashir has used the new equipment to intensify the civil war in the south.

The analysts said that over the last two years Khartoum has focused its procurement on air systems, particularly attack helicopters and bombers from the former Soviet Union. In addition, Sudan has purchased T-55 tanks from Poland via Yemen.

In all, they said, Sudan could be spending nearly $18 billion on the military during 2001. In 1999, the figure was estimated to be about $9 billion.

Arab states are concerned over the deteriorating military situation in Sudan as Khartoum has resumed air strikes to halt a rebel drive in the oil-rich south.

The issue has been promoted by such North African states as Egypt and Libya. Both countries are said to be aiding the regime of President Omar Bashir battle the Sudanese People's Liberation Army.

In a meeting in Tripoli on late Monday, the Arab League expressed support for Sudan and pledged to help Khartoum confront the latest rebel threat. A statement by the league cited the SPLA drive in the Bahr Ghazal province.

Bashir has improved his relations with the Arab world over the last two years. Sudan has launched what Arab diplomatic sources termed is defense cooperation with its northern neighbor Egypt.

Sudan produces about 200,000 barrels of crude oil a day, which brings Khartoum about $500 million a year. The oil exploration and development is being conducted by four companies, including those from Canada and Sweden.

The SPLA said it captured two armored personnel carriers and other heavy equipment that belongs to a foreign oil company. In addition, the rebels said they also captured the southwestern town of Boro near the border with the Central African Republic.

The SPLA said the capture of Boro means that government forces have been driven out of the western province of Bahr El Ghazal.

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