December 9, 2012 (KHARTOUM) — The head of the Darfur Regional Authority (DRA) Tijani Al-Sissi has slammed statements by the spokesperson of the Sudanese army which claimed that a force of the Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM) was preparing to launch rockets on Al-Fasher, terming it as "irresponsible".

The Sudanese army spokesperson Al-Sawarmi Khaled on Friday attempted to justify the Sudan Armed Forces’ (SAF) attack on LJM outside the capital of North Darfur, saying that its force was stationing in a site from where rebel groups used to attack Al Fasher.

Speaking to the press following a meeting with President Omer Al-Bashir, Al-Sissi said what the military spokesperson said means that the "Liberation and Justice Movement targeted the city," he said.

"We are innocent of these irresponsible charges," he said;.

He added that his movement works in a smart partnership with the government and reaffirmed that the LJM is a responsible movement putting Darfur security at the top of its priorities.

Darfur rebel groups have attempted several times to shell Al-Fasher like their ally in the Sudanese Revolutionary Front alliance, the SPLM-North, which has launched several rockets attacks on Kadugli, capital of South Kordofan. The SPLM-N said such attacks aim to transfer the fighting to the government held positions.

Al-Sissi said that the security arrangements commission will start its works during the upcoming weeks aiming to implement the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) process of the former rebel fighters.

The meeting also, according to Al-Sissi, tackled the DRA’s recommendations on the formation of the regional security committee, which, in line with the Doha document deal, has to deal with security cases involving several states in the region.

He said that Bashir pledged to facilitate the issuance of travel permits for aid workers implementing development projects in Darfur and will do everything it can to contribute to holding donors conference and another meeting on the voluntary return of displaced and refugees.

Different European countries supporting the International Criminal Court complained recently from the obstruction practiced by the security services to prevent their travel to Darfur to identify or visit locations they have chose to implement development projects to support the Doha peace document, which brought the LJM into the government in 2011.

(ST)