Rebel sources said Sudanese military aircraft have attacked
rebel-controlled areas of Darfour in late April. They said this included
strikes on a location in North Darfour where rebel leaders had planned to
conduct unity talks.
In an April 29 attack, the sources said, the air force employed
fixed-wing Antonov transports and Mi-24 attack helicopters. The sources said
the Sudan Liberation Movement downed one of the helicopters, and one airman
was killed and several others were injured.
[In an unrelated development, Algeria has captured five would-be Al
Qaida suicide bombers, Middle East Newsline reported. The Algerian daily El Khabar reported on Monday that
one of the suspects, identified only as Mustafa, was arrested on April 12
and said he was meant to participate in the Al Qaida attacks on government
and police installations in Algiers.]
A Sudanese military spokesman acknowledged that the air force, which
includes Russian-origin MiG-29 fighter-jets, has conducted reconnaissance
operations near the Darfour town of Kutum. But he denied any attack
missions.
Rebel sources also said air force fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft
attacked another target near Hashaba in North Darfour. No casualties were
reported.
The African Union and United Nations have reported a rash of air attacks
in Darfour, despite Khartoum's commitment to end combat operations. In late
April, Sudanese fighter-bombers struck Amaray and another site in northern
Darfour, the AU said.
The AU has about 7,000 peace-keepers in Darfour. The Security Council
has pressed for that force to be expanded by some 3,000 UN personnel.
