Confrontations between the army and the rebels in west Sudan

The Sudan Liberation Movement said that violent confrontations took place recently between it and the Sudanese forces to the west of the country resulted in killing hundreds of persons.

Abdul Wahid Muhammad Ahmad al-Nour, leader of the Sudan liberation front, one of two rebel movements in the region, said that his forces killed some 700 members of the government forces and militiamen while the government forces killed 175 persons there.

In recent weeks, fighting escalated in Darfour. It started in February because of rebels accusations of Khartoum of margining the dry area. No comment was made from the officials on these news and no confirmation was made from independent sources.

The rebels say that the government forces bombarded the west of Murra mountain by Antonove and helicopter planes and heavy artillery, and this forcesd citizens to leave their towns to Chad.

Sudan radio said last Friday that the Sudan army resumed control of Teinah town on the border with Chad.

Nour said that more than 75 civilians were killed and four villages were burnt in the attacks which are led by the government on Saturday, in the west Murra mountain area.