Peacekeepers say they saw Sudanese government aircraft bombing suspected rebel positions in the western Darfur region yesterday, days after negotiations between
But
Members from the joint U.N./African Union UNAMID peacekeeping force said they heard five shell explosions in territory north of the town.
“UNAMID forces observed Sudanese Government aircraft bombing targets north of Umm Baru … shortly after 10 a.m. this morning,” the force said in a statement.
A UNAMID official, who asked not to be named, said it was thought the army was targeting JEM positions. No one was immediately available from JEM to comment.
Brigadier Uthman al-Agbash told Reuters no government bombing had taken place. “The Sudanese army did not have any military operations in this area” he said.
Aerial attacks are banned in
JEM commanders said they defeated a force of fighters loyal to former rebel leader Minni Arcua Minnawi close to Umm Baru over the weekend. In 2006, Minnawi became the only
JEM has been consolidating its position as one of the largest rebel military forces in
JEM resumed discussions with
UN officials say up to 300 000 people have died and more than 2.7 million have been driven from their homes in