Sudan: Rebels kill 11 villagers, wound 17 others in Darfur

Khartoum, Sudan (PANA) - For the first time since a bloody conflict erupted in 2003 in Sudan's western Darfur region, the African Union (AU) has accused ethnic minority rebels in Darfur of infighting that killed 11 persons and left 17 others wounded.

"These acts of the rebel movements, especially the relentless pursuit and attacks on Justice and Equality Movement elements by the Sudan Liberation Army with heavy civilian collateral damage, are unacceptable and condemned in the strongest terms," AU Mission in Sudan (AMIS) spokesman Noureddine Mezni said here Monday a press statement.

The AU made the accusation as renewed peace talks involving the rebel factions and the Khartoum government are scheduled to begin this week under the auspices of the African in Abuja, Nigeria. The rebel Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), alleging neglect and marginalisation of the region, a revolted in February 2003 against Khartoum government.

The AU initiated the Abuja talks as part of its mediation efforts to end the brutal strife.

On Friday, SLM fighters attacked JEM positions in Graida with mortar rounds "killing 11 persons, wounding 17 others and burning several houses," Mezni said, demanding "an immediate stop to the clashes between the two rebel groups."

He described the fighting as "a serious breach" of the much violated and shaky ceasefire deal which the two rebel groups signed with the government in April 2004 in Chad.

Mezni said that mission chief, Baba Gana Kingibe had been "following with deep concern the deteriorating security situation in South Darfur."

Kingibe held the SLM and JEM "exclusively responsible for the deteriorating security situation as their military elements have engaged in clashes for control of the territory," Mezni added.

The rebels should exercise "restraint at this moment" with the African Union preparing to convene a new round of peace talks with the government in Nigeria on Friday.

"The clashes had begun in March when SLM fighters attacked the JEM-held village of Muhajeriya in South Darfur state and chased their rivals out" Mesni explained.

In response, JEM forces occupied Graida, also in South Darfur, "despite requests by AMIS forces for them to relocate some six kilometres outside" the village.

Graida used to be under Sudanese government control, but Khartoum agreed to pull its forces out of the village in line with last year's ceasefire accord, which stipulated that the area be demilitarised.

Mezni called on the rebels to "withdraw their forces completely from Graida and from locations taken over by AMIS forces or vacated by government troops."

In recent weeks there have growing concerns that the war between government forces and the rebels is increasingly being overtaken by rivalries between ethnic elements in Darfur.

Mainly active in North Darfur, the JEM draws support from the Zaghawa minority and is said to have links with Sudan's Islamist opposition.

The SLM draws most of its support from sedentary groups in the south and centre and joined mainstream opposition parties in the National Democratic Alliance with separatist former rebels of the Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement (SPLA/M).