Sudanese army says it repulses rebel attack, killing three rebels

KHARTOUM
Jan 10, 2002 (AFP)

The Sudanese government army has repulsed a rebel attack on an area in the Nuba Mountains, killing three rebels, a newspaper reported here Thursday.

Independent Akhbar Al Youm daily quoted army spokesman General Farouq Mohamed Nour as saying "a platoon-size force of the rebel movement (Wednesday) made an abortive attack on Rasu area in the Nuba Mountains."

General Nour said his troops stood up to the attack by the Sudan People's Liberation Army and "killed three of the outlaws, including an officer."

He noted that the attack came ahead of a scheduled visit by US peace envoy John Danforth to Sudan next Monday and "ahead of concluding the ceasefire" expected to be worked out by Danforth in the Nuba Mountains in central Sudan.

Sudan has since 1983 been torn by a civil war opposing Arab and Muslim governments in Khartoum with the Sudan People's Liberation Army rebels, made up mainly of animists and Christians from the south.

Northern opposition groups also took up arms against the government in 1995.