Rebels, Sudan army clash in Dalami town
A military tank is stationed near a Sudanese security facility in the city of Nyala, in the Darfur region, on July 4 , 2013.
Clashes have erupted between the Sudanese army and rebels in the southern town of Dalami in South Kordofan State, the military spokesman says.
Colonel Al-Sawarmy Khaled Saad said that the fighting broke out on Wednesday when the rebels attacked the town "from two directions, trying to enter... until the armed forces pushed them back and inflicted heavy casualties and material losses on them."
The officer added that a number of civilians, including women and children, were killed after the insurgents of the rebel group of the Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF) shelled the town.
SRF spokesman Arnu Lodi also confirmed the militant group carried out the attack on the town.
"We confirm that we attacked the garrison town of Dalami," Londi said.
"The battle went on from the morning until midday and our forces withdrew after destroying the garrison of the government forces," he claimed.
SRF is an alliance of rebel groups, who have been fighting against the Khartoum government.
On May 26, 2013, the Sudanese army clashed with SRF rebels in the Dandor area of South Kordofan. Khartoum says South Sudan supports the SRF, but Juba denies the allegations.
DB/AS/MHB