Sudanese rebells announce the killing of 197 state soldiers

The spokesman for the People's Army for the Liberation of Sudan Yasser Armaan said on Tuesday that 197 Sudanese government soldiers died during battles in East Sudan.

In a statement, the spokesman said the soldiers were killed during a surprising attack on Qoufa position ( to the south of the Blue Nile).

Armaan added that members of the people's army "seized Qoufa which is the fourth positions already seized" since June 4 in this oil rich area.

Recently, the People's Army for the Liberation of Sudan announced that the government was forces to stop oil exploration works in 6 oil wells in the Upper Nile State ( in the south) following attacks carried out by its forces, which he said resulted in killing 600 soldiers of the government forces.

In earlier statements, the same group said it considers oil installations as legitimate targets for their attacks because oil revenues, according to southern Sudan rebellions, contribute to financing the Sudanese government, which spends one US $ one million daily to continue the war, according to estimates made by western experts.