In a May 15 briefing, Al Sawarmi said the Sudanese Army operation
targeted the western portion of Darfour. He said scores of rebels were
captured in the attack, but did not cite army casualties.
"We have detained 61 rebels and confiscated 16 cars and three large
trucks," Al Sawarmi said.
Officials said this marked a major victory by the Khartoum regime over
JEM, regarded as the most powerful rebel group in Darfour. They said JEM had
renewed operations in southern Darfour in May.
"They attacked a convoy carrying food destined for the citizens of
Darfour, but the attack was thwarted by central police forces who were
protecting the convoy," Interior Minister Ibrahim Mahmoud said.
Officials said police and security forces battled JEM near the southern
Darfour town of Nyala. They said 33 rebels and 27 police officers were
killed in the fighting reported on May 14.
For its part, JEM said the Sudanese Army has sustained an offensive in
Darfour over the last month. On May 1, JEM withdrew from peace negotiations
with Khartoum that had been held in Qatar.
"Sudan has chosen war against peace and we are ready for it," JEM
representative Al Tahir Al Feki said.
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