Sudan denies violation of Darfur truce

KHARTOUM, May 22 (Reuters) Sudan today denied Darfur rebel reports that its troops had attacked their camps and breaking a ceasefire and a peace deal signed this month to end the conflict which has killed tens of thousands.

The peace deal was signed under intense global pressure on May 5 between the government and one main rebel faction. But two other rebel factions refused to sign, saying the deal was unfair.

Thousands of Darfuris have demonstrated against the deal.

Yesterday the faction which signed the deal belonging to Minni Arcua Minnawi, said the government and its allied militia had attacked its bases in Dar es Salaam in North Darfur.

''We the armed forces did not attack any areas, not Dar es Salaam or anywhere,'' said the armed forces spokesman's office in Khartoum.

''There are many empty accusations flying around but none of them are true.'' The African Union said Arab militias, known as Janjaweed, had been massing in both North and South Darfur states and had exchanged fire with its soldiers. But they could not confirm any government attacks on rebels.

Clashes have continued unabated despite the peace deal between militias and rebels. Smaller clashes between rebel factions also continue. But the government, which the United Nations says armed the Janjaweed to fight the rebels, denies it is using the militias.

''The armed forces do not need to use militias. If we are attacked we have the right to defend ourselves and will do so,'' said the army official, who declined to be named.

The Janjaweed stand accused of a widespread campaign of rape, looting and killing which drove two million Darfuris from their homes to miserable camps across the vast desert region.

The government admits arming some tribes to fight the rebels in early 2003 but denies any links to the Janjaweed, calling them outlaws.

Today Minnawi's faction said the government was using Antonov planes as air cover for large troop movements in North Darfur state in preparation for an attack. The areas of control are not clearly marked so both the government and the rebels claim some areas as theirs.

''They flew Antonov planes for two hours this morning,'' said al-Tayyib Khamis, a spokesman for Minnawi's Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) faction. ''They are trying to get as much territory as possible before the UN troops come in,'' he added.

The cash-strapped African Union force has asked for a UN transition in Darfur. The force has been unable to stop attacks on civilians even when present and those in the refugee camps have attacked them out of frustration.

Sudan prior to the peace deal had refused a UN force and UN force and UN Scretary-General Kofi Annan is sending top diplomat Lakhdar Brahimi for high-level talks in Khartoum on Tuesday hoping to secure a breakthrough.

REUTERS PG RN1753