Darfur Rebel Leader 'Killed' in Sudan

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

Sudan's army said on Sunday that it had killed a Darfur rebel leader, three days after anti-government forces moved in on the capital Khartoum. Khalil Ibrahim headed the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), once the most armed group in the Darfur region.

 

The Sudanese army announced that they had killed Ibrahim amidst fighting in west Wadbanda, North Kordofan in the centre of the country. His death could not be confirmed by independent sources.

 

The state's governor said rebel vehicles were seen burning following the clash.

 

On Saturday, Sudan's official SUNA news agency said that the military was searching the North-Kordofan-North Darfur border area, after JEM attacked civilians, targeted local leaders and looted property.

 

In July, the Sudanese government signed the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur, along with the Liberation and Justice Movement, an alliance of rebel factions. Darfur's main armed groups, JEM and sections of the Sudanese Liberation Army, did not sign the agreement.

 

Instead, they joined the SPLM-North rebel group to ratify documents to form the Sudanese Revolutionary Front. Their revolt is aimed at the National Congress Party in Khartoum.

 

Elsewhere in the country on Sunday, riot police battled students at the University of Khartoum after they called for an exam boycott.

 

Police fired tear gas while students threw stones, as emergency vehicles flooded to the area.

 

It was not immediately clear what the students were demanding, however the sit-in coincided with the first day of exams.