Battles erupt between Sudanese Armed Forces and SPLA
KHARTOUM, SUDAN - Dec 12 2011 11:48
Heavy fighting between the Sudanese army and southern-aligned rebels in the
embattled state of South Kordofan has killed at least 19 government troops,
a rebel spokesperson said on Monday.
"There was heavy fighting on Saturday in Warni, in the far east of Talodi
locality. The SPLA repelled an attack by the army. They left 19 bodies on
the ground," Arnu Ngutulu Lodi said.
The Sudanese army spokesperson could not immediately be reached for comment.
Lodi said the clashes followed three days of fighting in the northern Rashad
locality, where the rebels managed to expel the army from the Abu al-Hassan
area, and that the two sides were battling on Monday in the Taruje area,
near the disputed southern border.
"The fighting now is going on in Taruje. There are heavy artillery
bombardments. The SPLA has surround the SAF [Sudanese Armed Forces], who are
under a lot of pressure. Any time now they will be driven out," he claimed.
'War situation'
The conflict erupted in South Kordofan in June between the army and
militiamen who fought alongside the ex-southern rebels during their 22-year
conflict with the north, as Khartoum moved to assert its authority within
its borders ahead of South Sudan's independence in July.
A similar conflict broke out three months later in nearby Blue Nile state.
Taruje lies just 20km north of Jau, a disputed area on the poorly defined
north-south border.
Direct clashes in Jau last week between the armies of north and south -- who
fought a devastating 22-year conflict prior to the 2005 peace deal --
prompted South Sudan's army spokesperson to warn of a "war situation" that
would escalate with the arrival of more northern troops.
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Received on Mon Dec 12 2011 - 19:08:10 EST