News Article by DPA posted on May 11, 2003 at 13:17:24: EST (-5 GMT)
Fresh fighting breaks out in Dafur region of Sudan
KHARTOUM, May 11, 2003 (dpa) -- Sudanese government forces crushed rebel attacks in Maleith, a troubled town in the northern region, the official Sudan News Agency (SUNA) reported Sunday.
According to SUNA, rebels of Sudan's Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A) raided a number of buildings in the town, including the police station, the bank and the customs headquarters.
The statement did not reveal the number of casualties on either side, but did say that the main market of Maleith and food warehouses in the town were destroyed.
The SLM/A rebel movement in Darfur became effective earlier this year.
SUNA said that the Sudanese armed forces have started chasing the rebels out of town and calm has been restored.
The Darfur region has been witnessing severe drought and a famine, factors which have fuelled conflict between nomadic Arab tribal militias and other groups in the area.