Darfur clashes over army base kill 63: military

By Andrew Heavens

KHARTOUM (Reuters) - Twenty Sudanese soldiers and 43 Darfur rebels were killed in fierce clashes over a Sudanese army base close to the Chadian border, the country's army said on Monday.

Darfur's rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) said it attacked the army base in the settlement of Umm Baru, in north Darfur on Sunday, the second military camp it has raided in just over a week.

The region's joint U.N./African Union UNAMID peacekeeping force originally said the rebel attackers had overrun the army base.

But UNAMID Information Director Kemal Saiki said on Monday the reports from peacekeepers also based in the settlement had been confused.

"They did make a push for it, but they did not overrun the post. Put it down to the fog of war," Saiki said.

UNAMID later released a statement condemning the violence, adding 350 civilians and 100 government soldiers took refuge close to its own base in Umm Baru during the clashes.

"Urgent humanitarian aid, particularly food, water, medical supplies and tents, is needed to help civilians displaced by the fighting," the statement added.

Sudan's army spokesman Brigadier Uthman al-Agbash told state media that government soldiers had routed the rebel forces and 43 JEM fighters had been killed and 54 injured. He told the Sudanese Media Centre 20 of his soldiers had also been killed and 31 injured.