Sudan says Chad complicit in rebel attack on Khartoum, cuts diplomatic ties

News Article by AP posted on May 11, 2008 at 11:31:27: EST (-5 GMT)

Sudan says Chad complicit in rebel attack on Khartoum, cuts diplomatic ties KHARTOUM, Sudan (AP)- Sudan has severed relations with Chad, accusing it of supporting rebels who staged Saturday's surprise attack on Khartoum. Sudanese officials also say a top leader of the Darfur rebels is still hiding somewhere in the capital area. Sudan's state radio says a curfew in Khartoum has been lifted but one remains in effect in the capital's twin city of Omdurman, where rebels are reported still on the loose. The surprise assault late Saturday was the closest the rebels have ever come to Sudan's seat of government, which is hundreds of kilometres from their bases in Darfur in the far west of the country. The government later issued several statements claiming to have crushed the rebels and images of captured and bloodied rebel fighters were shown on state television. Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir accuses Chad of helping the rebels and says he reserves the right to retaliate.