Khartoum media accuses SPLA of airlifting weapons to Darfur rebels

Monday June 28th, 2004.

KHARTOUM, June 28 (AFP) -- The Khartoum media Monday accused the Sudan People's Liberation Army of airlifting arms to rebels in the western region of Darfur, despite the southern guerrilla group's protestations it would stay out of the conflict.

An SPLA aircraft loaden with weapons and ammunition for the ethnic minority rebels landed in Darfur's central Jebel Marrah massif Sunday after taking off from the Malwal Kon airstrip in the south, the Sudanese Media Centre (SMC) reported.

A number of Norwegian journalists were also on board the aircraft, the pro-government news agency added, charging that they were accompanied by an SPLA intelligence team intent on ensuring they would back Khartoum's opponents' charges of ethnic cleansing by government forces in Darfur.

There was no immediate reaction from the SPLA which has signed a framework peace agreement with Khartoum on ending the 21-year civil war in the south.