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KHARTOUM, Dec 30 (Reuters) - Sudan has accused Chadian aircraft of bombing its western Darfur region in what it called "repeated aggressions" by its western neighbour, but Chad said its operations against rebels never crossed the border.
Relations between the two African oil producers have been touchy in recent years as both try to quell insurgencies close to their long and porous border. They accuse each other of backing rebels trying to overthrow their respective governments.
"In an unprecedented escalation, Chadian forces have violated the joint border as three Chadian war planes bombed two areas ... in West Darfur ... on Dec. 28," said a Sudanese foreign ministry statement seen by Reuters on Sunday.
Chad said its ground and air forces had attacked rebel targets along the border, but had not crossed into Sudan.
"The security forces have taken every measure to cleanse the national frontiers of hostile forces," the External Affairs Ministry said in a statement broadcast on state radio in Chad's capital N'Djamena late on Saturday.
"In this context the plane undertook several strictly limited operations along the border against mercenaries who were trying to cross from Sudan. Contrary to the Sudanese allegations, the Chadian army never crossed the border to carry out ground operations on Sudanese territory," it said.
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L30155681.htm
Relations between the two African oil producers have been touchy in recent years as both try to quell insurgencies close to their long and porous border. They accuse each other of backing rebels trying to overthrow their respective governments.
"In an unprecedented escalation, Chadian forces have violated the joint border as three Chadian war planes bombed two areas ... in West Darfur ... on Dec. 28," said a Sudanese foreign ministry statement seen by Reuters on Sunday.
Chad said its ground and air forces had attacked rebel targets along the border, but had not crossed into Sudan.
"The security forces have taken every measure to cleanse the national frontiers of hostile forces," the External Affairs Ministry said in a statement broadcast on state radio in Chad's capital N'Djamena late on Saturday.
"In this context the plane undertook several strictly limited operations along the border against mercenaries who were trying to cross from Sudan. Contrary to the Sudanese allegations, the Chadian army never crossed the border to carry out ground operations on Sudanese territory," it said.
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L30155681.htm