Violent fighting in southern Sudan
Sudan, Politics, 1/28/2003

The Sudanese rebels announced yesterday that government forces took over Leir town after the eruption of fighting in what is considered as a violation to the truce agreement reached by representatives for the warring factions currently in Kenya to hold peace talks.

The spokesman for the rebels, George Ganarg, said that the "government launched a large attack and controlled today ( yesterday) morning Leir town." Workers at relief agencies confirmed that strong fighting was taking place in the western higher Nile province where Leir is located.

However, the rebels and the Sudanese government who are holding talks currently in Nairobi in an attempt to end the war between them ongoing since 20 years had signed a provisional agreement to ceasefire in an attempt to support the peace process. It is presumed that the truce will be valid until March 31st, but it has been violated repeatedly.

The charitable Sans Frontier doctors said it has evacuated five of its employees from Thonyour, Dablowal, close to the area of fighting. The chairman of Sans Frontier doctors mission Aryan Hehinkamp said "we have evacuated them yesterday from their offices on the western higher Nile area because of the fighting. The fighting was short but intense."

Previous Stories:
  Washington welcomes resumption of Sudanese peace talks in Nairobi   (1/25/2003)
  Arab efforts to reconcile Sudanese coalition and the government   (1/25/2003)
  Sudanese negotiations postponed until today   (1/23/2003)

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