February 21, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – A Sudanese army war plane mistakenly killed four civilians including children and women in South Darfur state on Thursday, a local official acknowledged .

A Russian-supplied Mi-24 attack helicopter redeployed to El Geneina airport from Nyala, Darfur (photo released by Amnesty in 2007)

The incident took place in Dreib Al Rieh, 31kms south-east of Nyala, when an airplane chasing rebels launched a bomb in the market of the village, instantly killing four people and wounding 10 others.

The deputy governor, Abdel Karim Musa, took part in the funerals held in Nyala for the four victims and asserted that the incident was a mistake, inconsistent with the government’s objective of providing security and safety to Darfur people.

He said that the government had decided to form a committee to investigate the accidental killing of the four civilians.

Local officials say the rebels entered into the village and left it quickly after the airstrike.

The Sudanese army (SAF) is accused of repeatedly killing civilians in its air attacks on rebel groups. However, in an unusual move following the latest incident on Thursday, authorities this time admitted their responsibility.

Three historical rebel groups are fighting the Sudanese government in Darfur 10 years after the start of the conflict in February 2003.

The government signed a peace deal in July 2011 with the Liberation and Justice Movement, gathering dissidents of these groups. Another splinter group is also holding talks with Khartoum in the Qatari capital, Doha.

(ST)