Darfur Rebels Say Government on Attack

Sudan's Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Omar Bashir Mohamed Manis, left, listens during a Security Council meeting on the situation in Sudan, Thursday, Aug. 31, 2006 at the U.N. headquarters. The U.N. Security Council passed a resolution Thursday that would give the United Nations authority over peacekeepers in Darfur as soon as Sudan's government gives its consent _ which it has so far refused to do. Others are unidentified. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) (Mary Altaffer - AP)

KHARTOUM, Sudan -- Rebels in the war-torn Darfur region said Sunday that government forces backed by bomber aircraft were pursuing a week-old offensive and African Union peacekeepers reported continued fighting.

The government, meanwhile, significantly raised the stakes in Khartoum's standoff with the international community by calling for the AU to withdraw its troops from all of Darfur before its mandate expires on Sept. 30.

The rebels said aircraft were carrying out daily bombing raids as government troops seek to drive out National Redemption Front guerrillas from their strongholds north of Darfur's provincial capital, El Fasher.

Northern Darfur is controlled by rebels who did not sign a U.S.-brokered peace deal in May aimed at ending the three-year conflict in the western region of Sudan which has left more than 200,000 dead and displaced 2.5 million.

The government, which on Thursday rejected a U.N. Security Council resolution paving the way for the deployment of a 20,000-strong U.N. peacekeeping force, reportedly launched a major attack a week ago involving thousands of troops and Arab militiamen known as janjaweed in northern Darfur.

The conflict in Darfur began in 2003 with ethnic African tribes revolting against the Arab-led Khartoum government. The government is accused of unleashing the janjaweed militias who are blamed for widespread atrocities.

The Sudanese news agency SUNA quoted President Omar al-Bashir as saying U.N. attempts to deploy peacekeepers was a bid by the international community to take over his country.

"The call for deployment of international forces in Darfur is part of a comprehensive conspiracy for confiscating the country's sovereignty and imposing guardianship on the Sudanese people," al-Bashir said.

State media reported the Cabinet said it would take over Darfur security, which "has improved, except for some violations perpetrated by the National Redemption Front which has refused to sign the (peace) agreement."

Rebel commander Abubakar Hamid Elnur said by satellite telephone from northern Darfur that there were many civilian casualties.

"The government is still bombing with aircraft. It is very difficult for us to protect our civilians, especially from the air," he told The Associated Press. Many civilians have fled their villages for the hills and valleys, according to the rebels.

A government armed forces' spokesman denied any aerial bombing of villages in northern Darfur and described current army activities in the area as administrative operations.