---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: John Ashworth <[email protected]> Date: Fri, Nov 4, 2011 at 11:08 AM Subject: [sudan-john-ashworth] SPLM-N withdraws from Kurmuk To: Group <[email protected]>
1. SPLM-N admits losing strategic town to Sudan army November 3, 2011 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) on Thursday announced its troops have entered the border town of Kurmuk after heavy battles with fighters from the Sudan People Liberation Movement North (SPLM-N). SAF said in a statement that they managed to “fully liberate and secure” the town which lies on the borders with Ethiopia. “With the thanks and blessings of Allah the armed forces managed on Thursday evening the 3rd of November to destroy the powers of oppression and aggression from the remnants of the so called popular army in al-Kurmuk town and to fully liberate and secure it”. “The enemy forces fled led by rebel Malik Agar leaving behind its equipments and weapons”. Agar was the former elected governor of Blue Nile state until he was sacked by president Omer Hassan al-Bashir last September following clashes between SAF and SPLM-N. Both sides traded blame over who started the clashes which saw SAF managing to expel SPLM-N forces from most of the border state with the exception of al-Kurmuk which was considered the rebel stronghold. Yesterday the Sudanese president vowed that the town would be liberated before Eid Al-Adha religious holiday which starts on Sunday. SPLM-N acknowledged that SAF took over Kurmuk but said they withdrew beforehand. "The SPLM-N emptied the town because they were expecting the SAF to attack. But they are in many other areas of Blue Nile" SPLM-N spokesperson in Blue Nile Suleiman Osman told Agence France Presse (AFP). "Don’t imagine that the SAF entering Kurmuk is the end of the war, or total defeat for the SPLM-N. They will fight back," Osman said. The SPLM-N spokesperson further said added that Agar was safe and unhurt but did not disclose his whereabouts. Osman also suggested that SAF used chemical weapons in their assault on Kurmuk. "Some of the injured (rebels) had strange bleeding from their ears and noses. I talked to one of them on the phone and he was in a bad way. It seems the government took a decision to use some sort of chemical weapon," he said. SAF’s victory would likely boost the government’s standing domestically as it battles SPLM-N also in the state of South Kordofan. Khartoum also repeated accusations that South Sudan is providing support to SPLM-N in both states (ST) http://www.sudantribune.com/SPLM-N-admits-losing-strategic,40620 END1 2. Sudan seizes rebel stronghold in border state KHARTOUM (Reuters) - Sudanese armed forces seized the rebel stronghold of Kurmuk in Blue Nile state, both sides said on Thursday, after two months of heavy fighting in the state on the border with newly independent South Sudan. "Our troops entered the town of Kurmuk, expelled the insurgents and killed and wounded many (of them) and they are now cleansing the town," Sudan's defence ministry website said. Violence in Sudanese border states has soured talks between Khartoum and former civil war foe South Sudan who have yet to resolve issues such as how to share oil revenues or other assets after South Sudan seceded as part of a 2005 peace deal. A spokesman for SPLM-North in Blue Nile said rebels had withdrawn from Kurmuk, where its leader Malik Agar was believed to be hiding, but that the rebels would fight on. "The SPLM troops have withdrawn from Kurmuk for strategic reasons. The Sudanese army controls Kurmuk but this is not the end of the war in Blue Nile," said spokesman Sulaiman Othman. Blue Nile and South Kordofan are north of the new border and remain part of Sudan, but are home to many who sided with the south during one of Africa's longest and deadliest civil wars. Both sides have also failed to find a solution for the disputed border region of Abyei which Khartoum seized in May. Rebels in border states say they have been politically and economically marginalised by Sudan's government. Khartoum accuses the insurgents of trying to spread chaos and says it will not tolerate armed militias on its side of the border. Fighting between the Sudanese army and SPLM-North rebels erupted in Blue Nile in September, spreading from neighbouring northern state South Kordofan where violence began in June. Khartoum accuses South Sudan of backing the rebels in both states. Juba has denied the charges. Border violence has also badly affected ties between Sudan and Western powers. U.S. President Barack Obama extended trade sanctions this week that have been in place since 1997. http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE7A300A20111104?sp=true END2 ______________________ John Ashworth Sudan Advisor [email protected] +254 725 926 297 (Kenya mobile) +249 919 695 362 (Sudan mobile) +27 82 853 3556 (South Africa mobile) +44 750 304 1790 (UK/international) +88 216 4334 0735 (Thuraya satphone) PO Box 52002 - 00200, Nairobi, Kenya This is a personal e-mail address and the contents do not necessarily reflect the views of any organisation -- The content of this message does not necessarily reflect John Ashworth's views. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, John Ashworth is not the author of the content and the source is always cited. You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "sudan-john-ashworth" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.co.za/group/sudan-john-ashworth -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "South Sudan Info - The Kob" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/SouthSudanKob?hl=en.
