The Sudanese government on Monday accused the Darfur rebels of violating a security protocol signed by the two sides last year, the official SUNA news agency reported.

Minister of State in the Foreign Ministry Najeeb al-Khair was quoted as saying that his ministry has informed the African Union (AU) and the United Nations of the attack against al-Malam area in Niyala last week.

Condemning the attack, the minister said it is against commitments made by the Darfur rebels in the security protocol signed in the Nigerian capital Abuja last December.

Al-Khair said such an incident would spoil the atmosphere when the AU and all concerned parties were arranging for the next round of talks in Abuja slated for Sept. 15.

SUNA reported that the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM), one of the two main rebel groups in Sudan's western Darfur region, attacked the al-Malam area on Aug. 23 and seized a number of vehicles.

On Aug. 24, the SLM launched another attack against the same area, firing at armless people there and capturing seven of them as well as looting 3,100 heads of camels, SUNA said.

The Sudanese government announced the attacks on the eve of the arrival of AU Chief Mediator to Darfur Salem Ahmed Salem in Khartoum who was charged with discussing issues related to the upcoming round of Abuja talks with the Sudanese government and the Darfur rebels.

The Sudanese government signed the Declaration of Principles in the previous round of talks with the rebels last month.

The two sides agreed to hold a sixth round of peace talks on Aug. 24, which was then postponed due to a demand from the SLM.

Source: Xinhua