Sudan: Rebel commander arrested in Darfur

KHARTOUM

A senior rebel commander has been arrested by Sudanese army forces in the troubled Darfur region, a rebel group said Tuesday.

In a statement, the Sudan Liberation Movement headed by Minni Minawi (SLM-MM) said Gomma Mandi Issa was captured during clashes with Sudanese forces near Libyan border earlier this week.

It said two other leaders – the chairman of the group’s transitional council and the military spokesman – have also been detained.

The Sudanese army has yet to confirm the report.

Deadly clashes erupted between Sudanese forces and rebels in Darfur over the past days with each side claiming to have defeated the other, but without giving a specific number of casualties.

Darfur has been the scene of a ferocious war between the Sudanese government and three rebel movements since 2003. The conflict has left 300,000 people dead and around 2.5 million others displaced, according to UN figures.

The Sudanese government, however, insists that the death toll does not exceed 10,000 people.

Last Month, UN envoy to Libya Martin Kobler said Darfur rebel movements have presence in war-torn Libya, a claim vehemently denied by the rebels.

Reporting by Mohammed Amin; Writing by Mohamed Sabry Emam Muhammed