News Article by AFP posted on March 06, 2003 at 12:27:08: EST (-5 GMT)
Sudan's Darfur rebels say not fighting for secession
CAIRO, March 6 (AFP) -- A rebel group leader, who recently took control of a major town in Sudan's northwestern Darfur region, said on Thursday that he was not fighting for independence but only for a role in government.
"Our movement isn't secessionist ... we only want a role in power and a share of resources," said Khalil Ibrahim, chief of the Sudanese Movement for Justice and Equality, in an interview with the London-based Arab daily Al-Hayat.
Ibrahim confirmed having led the incursion into Darfur and said his movement is focused on "ending the internal colonalism" practised by Khartoum.
Khalil said his group's struggle will go on until the country's regions gain more rights and a system of a "rotating presidency" between the states is implemented.
The rebel leader said that his movement had contacts with the southern Sudan's People Liberation Army (SPLA) but did not share its goal of independence for the south.
Unlike the Christian and animist SPLA, he said his group was Muslim and had no problem with Khartoum in that rspect.
Local media said at the end of February that 300 armed men from a new rebel movement had captured the city of Gulu, the capital of Jebel Marrah province in the state of North Darfur.
The rebels had set up a training camp in the province, launching attacks against the army and police, according to authorities.
Darfur is one of the most arid and isolated regions in Sudan, Africa's largest country. The area has witnessed tribal clashes and bandit raids for many years, but no armed political faction had previously been reported there.