Back-and-forth continues in central Darfur fighting

Government forces and the Darfur rebel coalition both claimed victory in fighting in the Al Shurfa area in eastern Jebel Marra last week. The region is defended by a coalition of Sudan Liberation Army commanders, including ones loyal to Minni Minawi, Abdel Wahid Al Nur and Ali Karbino.A spokesman for the rebel alliance, Ibrahim Suleiman, told Radio Dabanga on Friday that their forces killed 21 government soldiers, wounded 80 others and damaged a MiG aircraft. He stressed that the movements lost in that battle one car while another three soldiers were injured. He affirmed to Radio Dabanga their forces retained control over the area and had driven government troops to the outskirts of Shangil Tobaya.

The army likewise claimed victory. Colonel Al Sawarmi Khalid Saad, the spokesman of the Armed Forces, told Radio Dabanga that the army killed 25 of the coalition forces. He said they also captured 4 vehicles. Al Sawarmi admitted the loss of the 2 army soldiers and 10 wounded in the battle. Al Sawarmi denied damage to any helicopter in battles east of Jebel Marra, as announced earlier by the rebels.