World Tribune.com

Sudan deployed militia in latest Darfour offensive

SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Tuesday, November 7, 2006

CAIRO — Despite a recent pledge, Sudan sent its Arab militia against civilians in the Darfour province, rebel and UN sources said.

Sudanese rebel sources said the Janjaweed militia conducted ground strikes in western Darfour near the border with Chad. The sources said Janjaweed has targeted civilians, particularly children, as part of the ongong Sudanese military offensive.

The African Union and United Nations have confirmed the military campaign and the targeting of children. UN officials urged Khartoum to protect civilians.

So far, at least 70 people have been killed in the latest military campaign by the Khartoum regime, Middle East Newsline reported. The sources said half of the casualties were children.

"The government have begun mobilizing the Janjaweed widely, especially in West Darfour, because they want to clear the area and move north along the border and defeat us," Bahr Idriss Abu Garda, a leader of the National Redemption Front, said.

Western monitors said the Sudanese Air Force has also been deployed in the offensive in Darfour. They said the air force was bombing villages along the border with Chad.

Khartoum has pledged to dismantle Janjaweed, an estimated force of 10,000. The regime also said it would honor a UN Security Council resolution that banned bombing raids in Darfour.


Copyright © 2006 East West Services, Inc.

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