Rebels ‘take North Darfur garrison’: LMJ spokesman

The Liberation Movement for Justice (LMJ), led by Ali Karbino, announced that its forces took control of the Kalaimendo garrison in North Darfur on Wednesday. Mohamed Ahmed Yagoub, spokesman for the LMJ reported to Radio Dabanga that the movement’s forces attacked the military garrison in Kalaimendo locality, southeast of El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, at 2pm, and defeated the “government forces”, consisting of Popular Defence Forces, Central Reserve Forces (Abu Tira), and the National Security Forces. The rebels claim to have killed 20 government troops, captured three Land Cruisers mounted with Dushka machineguns, and various kinds of small arms. Four military vehicles, loaded with weapons, were destroyed, he added. The spokesman claimed that the LJM forces seized full control of the garrison and the village of Kalaimendo on Wednesday. A listener from Kalaimendo told Radio Dabanga that about 2pm rebel forces attacked and took control of the Abu Tira site and the police station in the area. The Abu Tira troops tried to repulse the attack but the rebel forces “were much stronger”. 15 Abu Tira troops were killed, and their vehicles seized, according to the witness. He added that the police station was also attacked but he did not know about “the fate of the policemen”, but that by 6pm, when he spoke to Radio Dabanga, the rebel forces had entered Kelaimendo village. It was clear, he said, that two citizens were killed and another wounded, when they joined the Abu Tira forces fighting the rebels. The townsfolk of Kalaimendo stayed indoors all afternoon. Air raids On Wednesday, the Sudanese Air force bombed areas to the west of Jebel Marra, in particular around Funga village. A witness from the area told Radio Dabanga that an Antonov dropped three bombs in the area but did not cause any casualties. The bombing, however, created great fear among the villagers. The witness added that military aircraft continued to circle intensively above the areas east and north of Jebel Marra on Wednesday. The residents of Jebel Marra again appealed to the UN to pressure the Sudanese government to stop the continuing indiscriminate aerial bombardment of civilians in the country. File photo:  Rebels of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) in Darfur driving a vehicle mounted with a Duschka machinegun. Related: Rebels ‘attack military garrison in South Darfur’ (13 January 2014) Red Cross facilitates release of troops in Darfur (5 January 2014)