Darfuris are caught in crossfire as Khartoum bombs rebels

Khartoum: Sudan has reportedly bombed a rebel-held area in Darfur, despite assurances from Khartoum that civilians sheltering in the area near the Chad border would be allowed safe passage, the United Nations said on Sunday.

"Unamid has received reports this morning of aerial bombings in the Jabel Moun area in western Darfur," a UN statement said. "We are gravely concerned for the safety of thousands of civilians in this area."

Sudan launched an offensive on February 8 to retake parts of West Darfur state from rebels. Residents said at least 114 people were killed, but the army said many of those were rebels in civilian clothing.

Thousands of people fled the fighting. Some crossed the border into neighbouring Chad but many sought refuge in the nearby Jabel Moun area, which has been the scene of sporadic battles between army and rebels and has been a no-go area for the UN-AU peacekeeping mission known as Unamid.

UN officials estimate some 20,000 people were in Jabel Moun.

Now the United Nations said there were reports of bombing in Jabel Moun.

China: Eliminate obstacles

China wants Sudan to eliminate obstacles blocking full deployment of the new UN-African Union peacekeeping force for Darfur, Beijing's envoy said in Khartoum on Sunday, while also urging rebels to return to peace talks.

China's role in Sudan came under renewed international attention when film director Steven Spielberg recently quit as an artistic adviser to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, saying Beijing had failed to use enough of its sway with Khartoum to seek peace in Darfur.

Envoy Liu Guijin said Sudan should do more to end the bloodshed by cooperating more with a "hybrid" peacekeeping force backed by the United Nations and African Union.