100 die in Sudan army attacks

2007-10-08 14:39

Khartoum - A key Darfur rebel leader on Monday accused the Sudanese army of razing a town in the troubled region, killing up to 100 people in retaliation for an attack on African Union troops.

Suleiman Jamous said: "The army launched an offensive against the town after the attack on the AU Mission in Sudan and we asked our fighters to leave the town taking with them civilians to spare them reprisals."

The town of Haskanita in south Darfur was destroyed on Saturday after a September 29 attack on a nearby AU base that left 10 peacekeepers dead and drew worldwide condemnation.

Jamous, former humanitarian co-ordinator for the Sudan Liberation Movement, said the army and its proxy militia, the Janjaweed, carried out the attack.

He said: "Certain civilians stayed behind and were the target of an army attack. I heard of somewhere between 86 and 100 dead but I can't confirm."

- AFP