Rebel forces ‘attack army battalion in North Darfur’: spokesman

Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF) forces reportedly attacked a Sudanese army battalion in Wadi Eweiji, north of Kutum, North Darfur, on Friday. Speaking to Radio Dabanga, Mustafa Tambur, the military spokesman for the Sudan Liberation Movement led by Abdel Wahid El Nur (SLM-AW) to Radio Dabanga that their troops, under the banner of the SRF, on Friday attacked an army battalion north of Kutum, killing 41 Sudanese army and militia troops. They captured Sergeant Izzeldin Mahmoud Mohamed Brinji and Corporal Hassan Adam Musa Ismail, and seized 11 Land Cruisers mounted with machine guns, a “sophisticated signal device”, 803 boxes with ammunition,126 RPG’s and a mortar. Nine Land Cruisers were destroyed. Tambur added that two SLM-AW troops were killed and two others injured. Citizens from the area confirmed to Radio Dabanga that on Friday heavy fighting took place between rebel forces led by Abdel Wahid El Nur and the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) in Wadi Eweiji. According to the eyewitnesses both parties used heavy weapons and machine guns. A number of troops were killed and injured on both sides.The sources also confirmed the destruction of a number of vehicles. They added that after the battle, two Sukhoi fighter jets bombed the area, killing a number of cattle and camels, and torching large areas of grasslands and farms. File photo Related: Rebels claim attack on North Darfur military garrison (30 December 2013)