Sudanese forces and rebels clash in Darfur: report

2 June 2004.

KHARTOUM, June 2 (AFP) -- Sudanese government troops and a force of some 600 rebels have clashed in Darfur region despite a ceasefire deal between the two sides, the Sudanese Media Centre (SMC) reported on Wednesday.

The centre said both sides suffered casualties in the fighting which, it said, started when rebels attacked government forces based at Ain Saro in the northern Darfur region. It did not say when this latest reported violation of the April 8 ceasefire occurred.

Khartoum government forces and their Arab militia allies have been at war with two rebel groups, the Justice and Equality Movement and the Sudan Liberation Movement, since February 2003, causing a major humanitarian crisis.

Over a million people have been displaced from their homes and a further 100,000 forced to seek refugee in neighbouring Chad, as a result of the fighting.

International humanitarian agencies have also accused the government and its local allies of gross human rights abuses in the area.

On Tuesday, the Justice and Equality Movement said 24 people had been killed in a two-day assault by government forces in the West Darfur village of Adjidji.