Khartoum accuses Garang's forces of breaching ceasefire

The Sudanese government announced that Col. John Garang's Sudanese People's Liberation Army has violated the ceasefire in Blue Nile state.

A police spokesman said today that five police officers were dead and 15 were missing before a Sudanese army unit supported the strength of police and repulsed the attack.

The spokesman of the police, General Abd El-Taeb Mokhtar, said that battles have taken place near the borders, where the strength of the police doesn't exceed 47 persons who were exposed to an attack by SPLA rebels using heavy weapons which made the force withdraw and seek the help of the Sudanese army forces.

He said these forces took part in a battle that lasted for 10 hours, ending with a victory for the government, while the rebel forces escaped, leaving a great number of dead and injured, in addition to losses in weapons and equipment.