Raiders attack Sudan army base

Armed raiders using mortars and heavy guns launched an attack on a Sudanese army base close to the Chadian border in Darfur today, international peacekeepers said.

The joint UN/African Union UNAMID peacekeeping force said they could not confirm the identity of the attackers but suspected the rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) that has been active in the area in recent months.

"The attack started at around 1600 hours (1300 GMT)," said UNAMID information director Kemal Saiki. "Our own base just a few kilometres away heard the heavy gunfire. It is still going on."

Any JEM involvement would heighten already deeply troubled relations between Sudan and Chad, as Khartoum accuses the N'Djamena government of backing the insurgent force.

Reuters