afrol News, 29 January - Sudan and Chad are in another bitter row after Sudanese government accused Chad of ferrying supplies to the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) rebels in its recent attack in South Darfur town. Chad has however denied the allegations.

The state minister for information, Kamal Obeid, said Chadian troops took part in recent attempt by JEM rebels to break out the encirclement of JEM troops in Muhageryia, South Darfur.

"Chadian forces from the Republican Guard entered Darfur with supplies and ammunitions to lift the siege imposed by the Sudanese armed forces on JEM troops," the Sudanese official told local newspaper Sudan Tribune.

Ties are reported to be very tense between Chad and Sudan although they re-established diplomatic relations in November, following a six-month break after Khartoum accused Ndjamena of backing a Darfur rebel attack on the capital Khartoum in May 2008.

The oil-producing neighbouring African countries have always traded accusations with each other of supporting insurgent groups on attacks.

The rebel JEM seized the dispute location of Muhageryia on 15 January, after clashes with former rebel Minni Minnawi fighters. Since then, the town is besieged by the Sudanese army.

Earlier this month, Chad charged that Sudan supported the formation of a coalition of insurgent groups, the Union of Resistance Forces, to prepare military action against President Idriss Deby's government.

Sudan has been on a diplomatic push to mend relations after the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court requested an arrest warrant in July against president Omar al-Beshir for alleged war crimes in Darfur.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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