Sudan says UN report on looting and rape is biased

Khartoum: The Sudanese army on Saturday criticised as biased a recent UN report that accused it of looting towns and raping girls and women during attacks it carried out in west Darfur with the help of Arab militias.

Army spokesman Brigadier General Osman Mohamed Al Aghbash said the army was simply doing its job of protecting civilians in the war-torn Western region of the country by forcing armed rebels out of the area.

Al Aghbash said, "The army, discharging its duty ... regarding the prevalence of security and protection of civilian lives, would go after rebels and bandit groups all over the country."

The United Nations report issued on Thursday said the attacks on Sirba, Sileia and Abu Suruj on February 8 by helicopter gunships and fixed-wing aircraft left at least 115 people dead and caused 30,000 to flee their homes.

Most of Abu Suruj and much of Sileia was burnt down, with some residents still in their homes, when militia on camels and horses joined the Sudanese army in attacking the towns, it added.

The UN said there were "strong indications" that members of the Sudanese Armed Forces, or SAF, committed rapes of women and girls in Sirba, located 50 kilometers
(30 miles) north of West Darfur's capital, El Geneina.

Al Aghbash said the report was seeking to "smear the image of Sudan" and instead blamed Darfur rebels for attacking civilians in the area and looting their property. Darfur rebels have denied their fighters were present at the time of the government attacks.