From sudaneseonline.com
180 Sudan troops defect in Darfur: rebels
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Oct 29, 2010 - 6:26:32 AM
180 Sudan troops defect in Darfur: rebels
(AFP) � 23 hours ago
KHARTOUM � About 180 Sudanese army soldiers have defected this week to join the ranks of the most militarised rebel group in the war-torn region of Darfur, the rebels said on Thursday.
"About 180 soldiers have joined our movement on the ground," said Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) spokesman Ahmed Hussein Adam, adding the troops were from the Bani Halba tribe and based at Edd el-Fursan in South Darfur.
The Sudanese military could not be reached to confirm or deny the report.
Men from several Arab tribes have fought alongside Sudan's army since the outbreak of Darfur's civil war in 2003, but some have gradually broken off their allegiance to the government.
The JEM, one of the two largest rebel groups in Darfur, says it has been trying to convince Arab leaders in Darfur to join its revolt.
"We contacted several groups ... We will see the answers we get in the coming days. But now we can say that we enjoy strong support among the Arabs of South Darfur," said the rebel spokesman.
He said the Sudanese authorities would attempt to wipe out the rebellion in Darfur in the coming weeks ahead of a south Sudan independence referendum on January 9.
Sudan's Defence Minister Abdel Rahim Mohammed Hussein visited Darfur this week and he pledged to purge JEM fighters from the region's north in the coming months, according to pro-government media.
(AFP) �
23 hours ago
KHARTOUM � About 180 Sudanese army soldiers have defected this week to join the ranks of the most militarised rebel group in the war-torn region of Darfur, the rebels said on Thursday.
"About 180 soldiers have joined our movement on the ground," said Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) spokesman Ahmed Hussein Adam, adding the troops were from the Bani Halba tribe and based at Edd el-Fursan in South Darfur.
The Sudanese military could not be reached to confirm or deny the report.
Men from several Arab tribes have fought alongside Sudan's army since the outbreak of Darfur's civil war in 2003, but some have gradually broken off their allegiance to the government.
The JEM, one of the two largest rebel groups in Darfur, says it has been trying to convince Arab leaders in Darfur to join its revolt.
"We contacted several groups ... We will see the answers we get in the coming days. But now we can say that we enjoy strong support among the Arabs of South Darfur," said the rebel spokesman.
He said the Sudanese authorities would attempt to wipe out the rebellion in Darfur in the coming weeks ahead of a south Sudan independence referendum on January 9.
Sudan's Defence Minister Abdel Rahim Mohammed Hussein visited Darfur this week and he pledged to purge JEM fighters from the region's north in the coming months, according to pro-government media.
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