Clashes in Darfur, protests mark five years of war

KHARTOUM (Reuters) - Darfur rebels and Sudanese armed forces clashed in West Darfur in a renewal of fighting in the volatile Sudan-Chad border area, with both sides claiming on Sunday they had inflicted heavy casualties.

The violence came as activists around the world prepared to mark five years of war in Darfur with protests to highlight the plight of more than one million children caught in the conflict.

West Darfur has seen the worst fighting between the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), Darfur's most militarily powerful rebels, and the government, with more than 100 people killed in clashes in February. Sudan accuses neighboring Chad of supporting JEM.

"The movement shot at an army helicopter and burnt it completely during the battle, and hit another one although its fate is unknown," JEM said in a statement sent on Sunday.

The attack on Saturday afternoon lasted until the evening and JEM killed "a large number of government troops" and stole weapons and vehicles from the army, the statement said.

The governor of West Darfur Abu el-Gasim confirmed there had been clashes in KishKish between army and JEM troops but said he did not have more details.

A senior Sudanese army officer told Reuters JEM attacked from vehicles that came from the north and west, across the border in Chad.

"There are many losses from the enemy side," he said, denying that any helicopters had been hit. "All our helicopters are fine." He declined to be named.

Officials from a joint U.N.-African Union peacekeeping mission, known as UNAMID, were not immediately able to comment. Two other rebel groups on Sunday said they had clashed with the government in the past two days in the central Jabel Marra region and in South Darfur near the town of Kass, although casualties were unknown.

FOCUS ON DARFUR

International experts estimate some 200,000 people have died and 2.5 million been driven from their homes since mostly non-Arab rebels took up arms in Darfur in early 2003 charging the government in Khartoum with neglect.

The government countered the revolt with men and air power, and by arming local militia which are accused of targeting civilians by burning villages, pillaging, killing and rape.

Washington calls the violence genocide and the conflict has captured attention in the West, with Hollywood stars, sportsmen and world famous authors campaigning for an end to the fighting.

Khartoum denies genocide, a term European governments are reluctant to use, and puts the death toll at 9,000, blaming the Western media for exaggerating the conflict.

Sunday's international commemoration, backed by celebrities including children's authors Judy Blume and J.K. Rowling and actor George Clooney, is being organized by an international coalition of activists and rights groups.

"Days like this matter because they keep what is happening in the eyes of the international community," said Clooney, who is also a U.N. messenger of peace.

"We need sustained international engagement if we're to see real progress on the ground."

Police violently dispersed Darfuri students at Khartoum University demonstrating against violence in the region, and many remained surrounded inside the university late on Sunday.

"They arrested 35 Darfuris and we have 12 injured with us, some from tear gas, some from knife wounds but we cannot take them to hospital because we are still locked inside the university," Darfuri student Salaheddin Bosh told Reuters.

Western governments have accused Sudan of impeding deployment of the United Nations-African Union force tasked with trying to keep the peace in Darfur. Critics say those Western governments have not provided the equipment and support needed to get the U.N.-AU troops on the ground.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he would push the U.N. Security Council next week for progress on Darfur. Brown's office said on Sunday he had offered to host Darfur peace talks.

(Editing by Mary Gabriel)