Sudanese army spokesman, Lieutenant-Colonel Al-Sawarmi Khalid Saad, said on Monday the fresh military offensive targeted the remaining fighters of the JEM, in North Darfur.
The spokesman said the military offensive would continue against the “remnants of JEM” until all militia hideouts in Darfur are cleared, the Sudan News Agency (SUNA) reported.
The Joint United Nations-African Union Peacekeeping Mission (UNAMID) confirmed the peacekeeping mission had received reports of a fresh military offensive in North Darfur and was investigating but this had not been confirmed.
The Sudanese army Spokesman said the “clean-up” operation in Darfur would continue, mainly targeting areas used as militia bases by the JEM fighters.
The army spokesman alleged the JEM fighters fled the government military offensive without much resistance.
“The remnants of JEM fled without significant fighting, retreating northwards and leaving behind many vehicles and their wounded and dead men who were killed during the one-hour in Western Al-Awateel area,” the spokesman said.
The Sudanese military described the military offensive as “extensive”.
“The armed forces have conducted an extensive combing operation in the areas of Mountains of Adoula, between the Northern and Southern Darfur. The operation resulted in the cleaning up of the area from the remnants of JEM,” the Sudanese military said in a statement to SUNA.
Earlier, UN-AU peacekeepers had confirmed the region was preparing for the planting season and vowed full protection to all Darfur farmers who wished to use the rains to plant crops.
UNAMID also confirmed it was tightening its “firewood patrol” to protect Darfurian women from cases of rape, the hallmark of the seven-year-long conflict in the Western Sudanese region.
The military offensive was launched as the International Criminal Court (ICC) confirmed it had enough reason to believe Sudanese President Omer El Bashir was responsible for genocide in Darfur.
The ICC issued a second arrest warrant against the Sudanese President on Monday. It urged the US and other non-signatories of the Rome Statute, which created the Court, to help arrest President Bashir.
The US has, however, asked the Sudanese President to surrender voluntarily.
Khartoum - Pana 14/07/2010