Clashes in Darfur, protests mark five years of war

By Opheera McDoom

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.