Sudan Accuses Chad Of Supporting Rebels Attack On Khartoum

El Fasher, Sudan (AHN) - Sudanese authorities announced that it has cut off diplomatic ties with Chad, accusing its neighbor of supporting rebels after a first ever Darfur rebel attack on Khartoum.

Darfur rebel group clashed with Sudanese security forces on the outskirts of the capital city of Khartoum Saturday.

"These forces [behind the Omdurman attack] are all basically Chadian forces supported and prepared by Chad and they moved from Chad under the leadership of [rebel chief] Khalil Ibrahim," President Bashir said in his televised statement, according to BBC News.

Residents of Omdurman, which is located just across the river Nile from Khartoum, had confirmed on Saturday that they heard heavy fighting in the area between Darfur rebels of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and Sudanese soldiers.

Curfew was imposed in the Sudanese capital from 1700 local time (1400 GMT) until 0600 on Sunday, according to the local officials.

On Sunday, however, the reports suggested that the curfew has been extended indefinitely till the security forces capture or kill all the rebels.

"I would like to assure people that everything is now under control, the rebel forces have been totally destroyed," said Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir in a televised address Sunday, wearing military fatigues, according to AP news agency.

The Justice and Equality Movement have engaged with government troops in the past, accused the government of discriminating the locals in favor of Arabs.

The group, led by Khalil Ibrahim, is one of the rebel forces among two dozens in Darfur, where more than 10,000 people have been killed due to the fatal clashes with the security forces over the past five years.

The Sudanese government has offered a reward of $125,000 to help capture Ibrahim, according to the local reports.

Meanwhile, Chad has denied supporting the rebels.

"The government denies any involvement in this adventure which it condemns without reservation irrespective of whoever is responsible," Communications Minister Mahamat Hissene said late Saturday, according to AP.