Fresh fighting between rebels, army in North Darfur

Rebel forces brought down a military helicopter and hit another in a new battle which broke out in Darfur on Monday. A joint force of the resistance battled the Sudanese Armed Forces in the area of Wadi Maqrab between Mizbad and El Hosh in North Darfur. The news was announced to Radio Dabanga by Abu Bakr Hamid Nour, the secretary for organization and management of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM). Abu Bakr said that the resistance forces (factions of JEM-Khalil, SLA-Abdel Wahid, SLA-Minawi, LJM-Karbino and SLA-Unity) clashed with government forces comprising 145 cars and backed up by 6 tanks in the area of Wadi Maqrab. The rebel official said the resistance forces defeated the enemy and forced them to flee. He added that the resistance destroyed five Land Cruisers in that battle and seven trucks carrying ammunitions and fuel. Radio Dabanga could not contact the army for comment. The helicopter that was reportedly hit flew away in the direction of Malit and Malha

Rebel forces surrounded the defeated remains of the government force, according to Abu Bakr, and they expect them to surrender. He affirmed to Radio Dabanga that airstrikes on the area are still continuing, stating that the government does not want peace.