SPLA official spokesperson: Villages of Okel in Kodok area and Alel of Lul attacked by SPLA on 09/07/2010

More than ten people have been killed in recent clashes between the forces of the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) and armed groups said to be allied to the breakaway Sudan People's Liberation Movement -- Democratic Change (SPLM-DC).

The SPLA official spokesperson, Major General Kuol Deim Kuol, said his forces on Friday attacked two locations of the armed group of the SPLM-DC in Upper Nile state. SPLM-DC is headed by the former Sudan's Foreign Minister, Dr. Lam Akol Ajawin.

"Yesterday on Friday July 9, 2010, there were criminals belonging to SPLM-DC who established two bases of militias center in Western Bank of River [Nile]. Our force attacked their position resulting into killing of militias group as well as military equipment seized by our SPLA and both two centers were completely destroyed," Kuol said.

The villages comprised of Okel in Kodok area and Alel of Lul were areas established by the SPLM-DC militias and we have attack them and more military equipments including 6 AKM rifles, solar fan and generator were seized during an attack," explained the SPLA spokesman.

He said that 11 armed militia members were killed by the SPLA forces as well as three people from SPLA forces sustained injuries.

Kuol however added that the situation in the Western Bank of the river is back to normal as the army was pursuing the militias.

Kuol accused the northern dominant National Congress Party (NCP) of supporting the SPLM-DC militias operations in Southern Sudan to disturb peace in the region.

"Those militias disturbing South Sudan security are military wing of the SPLM-DC and their support came directly from Lam Akol in Khartoum. Lam himself gained support from Khartoum government and I need to ensure everyone that SPLA is not sleeping, we are protecting our civilians from any attacks," he said.

The militia's commander, Colonel Guang Robert was reported to have been wounded in his arm and "now he is on the run with his few left forces toward forest and our SPLA forces are pursuing him...and I have confidence that he will be brought to book without failure," he further explained.

SPLM-DC leaders in Khartoum could not be reached for comment by Sudan Tribune.

Source : http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article35625