Sudanese government asks for volunteers, rebels for cease-fire extension

The Sudanese People's Liberation Army, which has been carrying out an armed conflict against the central government, has announced a cease fire extension for three months in Bahr al-Gazelle district as of October 14.

The rebels said in a statement that their decision complies with the calls advocated by the Kenyan President Daniel Arap Moi because of the starvation which hits Southern Sudan The southern Sudanese rebels and the government in Khartoum approved in the middle of July a three-month cease fire to facilitate the transfer of international aid to the victims of starvation in this region situated in southwestern Sudan.

Meanwhile, Khartoum dailies quoted Sudanese Defense Minister Ibrahim Suleiman as saying before the Nations Council that the government is in need of 50,000 volunteer fighters to eliminate the rebels and "their foreign supporters."

Addressing the parliamentarians, the Sudanese minister added that Ugandan troops, who he accuses of helping in attacks on southern Sudan, received advanced training at the hands of Israeli and American experts, adding that the "weapons they used in their attacks against the Sudanese territories are advanced and sophisticated."

He called for investing more funding in the war against the SPLA, which al-Khartoum says receives aid and backing from Uganda and Eritrea.

Suleiman told the Sudanese daily Akhbar al-Youm that the Sudanese Army inflicted heavy casualties on the Ugandan forces, including 13 tanks and three armored vehicles. He added that government troops held four tanks in good condition, heavy and intermediate-range artillery, equipment and supplies from the Ugandan troops.

On Tuesday, the Ugandan President accused Sudan of launching air raids on northern Uganda by the beginning of last week. He added that diplomatic relations between the two countries will be kept frozen.