afrol News, 13 May - The weekend clash between Darfur rebels of Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and Sudanese forces had reportedly left 500 people death - 400 rebels and 100 soldiers.

The clash has also left 30 civilians dead and 200 others hospitalised for injuries.

A raid on Omdurman, Khartoum's twin city across the River Nile, on Saturday had severed diplomatic relations between Sudan and Chad, with the former accusing the latter of supporting the rebel fighters.

But Chad has denied the allegations and closed its border, accusing Sudan of planning to attack its territory.

Sudanese security arrested and detained more than 300 people in connection with the attack, including Sudan's Islamist leader Hassan al-Turabi. Mr al-Turabi was interrogated for several hours before he had been released.

State security agents have since been conducting house-to-house search for suspected rebels in the city.

Calm is slowly returning in Khartoum where some check-points have been removed, although they remain on strategic bridges and in Omdurman.

Some offices and businesses, offices and banks have reopened on Tuesday. But the movement of vehicles have been slowed down by the many police and military checkpoints, with security agents checking identity documents. Those without identity papers have been taken for questioning.

Though the government had announced to have repulsed the latest rebel incursion, but JEM leader Khalil Ibrahim said his troops would be back.

Both Salva Kiir, President of South Sudan and Vice President of Sudan and the Presidential Adviser Minni Minnawi have all condemned the latest attack.

Minnawi, a former rebel commander, had urged the Sudanese government to avoid effecting arrests on "ethnic basis". He feared that Darfurians resident in Khartoum could be linked to the rebellion without justification.

Human rights workers have expressed worry that the detained people could be mistreated and tortured. Such fears have been dismissed by the government, promising to give fair military trial to suspects.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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