Sudan: Rebels Seize Darfur Town

Khartoum--Rebels in Sudanese war-stricken region of Darfur said they had seized control of a town from government troops in latest reported clashes in the region in the conflict that is yet to end almost a decade on.

The Sudan Liberation Army (SLA)-Minni Minnawi faction announced on Tuesday the take over of Girayda town in South Darfur State, which is about 100km south of the state’s capital of Nyala.

"Today our joint troops took control of Girayda after fighting with SAF [Sudanese Armed Forces]," said SLA spokesman Abdullah Moursal.

Mournal said that the attack had taken place in coordination with another SLA faction headed by AbdelWahid Nur, adding that four of their fighters were wounded during the clashes.

Both groups last year grouped together with other rebel groups in Sudan to form the Sudanese Revolutionary Front (SRF) with cause of fighting the Khartoum government which they regard as unrepresentative of Sudan’s political, ethnic and religious diversity.

SRF officials have confirmed that the alliance carried out the Girayda attack.

Yacoub Mohammed al Melik Girayda area member of parliament on confirming the take over said SLA-Minnawi fighters occupied the town and are still inside, condemning the attack in his statement to local media.

"We condemn this aggression because they disturbed the security of the civilians and looted their properties," said Melik of the ruling National Congress Party (NCP).

The United Nations humanitarian agency OCHA has raised concerns over a worsening security situation following “several reports” of recent attacks by rebels in South Darfur.

Fighting in Darfur ensued in February 2003 when two greatest rebel groups from the region’s African communities, the SLA and Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) took up arms against the Khartoum government, which they accused of oppressing them in favour of Arabs.

More than 300,000 people have died but Sudanese government puts the death toll at 10,000 in the fighting since then with over 2 million remaining displaced. The Hague based International Criminal Court issued a warrant of arrest in March 2009 against President Omar al-Bashir alongside three others for genocide and war crimes charges in the region.

Once seen as Darfur's most powerful rebel group, the JEM remains in disarray since killing of its leader, Khalil Ibrahim, in last December.

Tripoli, Libya

Libya PM Denounces Interim HQs Attacks

The Libyan Prime Minister Abdurrahim al-Keib has condemned the assault on the interim government headquarters in the capital, Tripoli, in which one person was killed and several others injured during the clashes on Tuesday.

Armed protesters attacked and surrounded the compound that houses the interim authorities demanding payment of reward the government had promised to give those who had ousted former leader Muammar Gaddafi’s government.

One security guard was killed in the gunfire that ensued after the more than 200 militiamen, some with mortars tried to storm into the building, injuring four others including three guards and an administrator.

"This afternoon, the building of the council of ministers came under attack by outlawed gunmen pretending to be revolutionaries, but they are not," said the Prime Minister in a televised speech. Mr. Keib said the government asserts that it will deliver on its promises but it will not give in to blackmail or to outlaws and will not negotiate under the threat of force.

The government spokesman Nasser al-Manaa said the armed group from Yafran town, 100km south-west of Tripoli, backed by about 50 trucks mounted with anti-aircraft guns and rocket launchers had gathered by noon outside the compound and aired their grievances but some gunmen forced their way into the building, opening fire.

Government officials inside the building including the finance minister and deputy premier were evacuated immediately and the area cordoned off. The PM was in a meeting elsewhere during the fire that lasted for about 30 minutes. 14 of the protesters have since been arrested.

The interim government began paying stipends to former rebel fighters few months ago in a scheme that was suspended last month following allegation of fraud.

Former rebel groups which still remain armed have often been embroiled in several clashes over territory and cases of handling Gaddafi loyalists since the end of the revolution in October following the capture and killing of Muammar Gaddafi.

Many occasionally armed have paraded on the streets of the capital displaying heavy artillery, while firing in the air. Rights groups have warned that armed militias in Libya who have refused to disarm under the government’s plan poise a threat to the achieved stability and security in the post-Gaddafi era.

The interim authorities have said they are trying to re-assert authority as security and political woes continue to mount in the run-up to the country's first free elections in June that will choose an assembly to draft a new constitution.