KHARTOUM, Sudan - The Sudanese military said it bombed three towns in West Darfur while striking at rebel forces Friday as senior United Nations' officials warned that security was deteriorating dramatically in Sudan's vast western region.
The UN officials told the Security Council that fighting has worsened the plight of civilians and is hurting chances for a political settlement in the five-year conflict.
Darfur rebels denied any of their fighters were in the towns attacked by the government and said some 200 people were killed. They said helicopter gunships and fixed-wing aircraft battered Sirba, Sileia and Abu Suruj, setting buildings on fire and causing thousands to flee.
"The government attacked using aircraft bombardment, troops and the Janjaweed (Arab militiamen),'' said Abdelaziz Ushar, a senior commander with the rebel Justice and Equality Movement.
Sudan's Arab-dominated government has been accused of unleashing the Janjaweed to commit atrocities against Darfur's ethnic African communities in the fight with rebel groups. At least 200,000 people have been killed and 2.2 million displaced since the fighting began five years ago.
The Sudanese army said its attacks forced rebels to retreat into neighbouring Chad, a provocative accusation at a time of escalating tension between the two countries. Both countries accuse each other of hosting hostile rebel groups, allegations that became even more sensitive after Chadian rebels attacked Chad's capital last weekend.
