Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KHARTOUM1880
2006-08-08 12:49:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Khartoum
Cable title:  

NRF Claims it Shot Down SAF Antonov

Tags:  PREL KPKO PGOV KCRM SU 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO3949
OO RUEHMA RUEHROV
DE RUEHKH #1880 2201249
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 081249Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4054
INFO RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHMFISS/CJTF HOA PRIORITY
UNCLAS KHARTOUM 001880 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KPKO PGOV KCRM SU
SUBJECT: NRF Claims it Shot Down SAF Antonov


UNCLAS KHARTOUM 001880

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KPKO PGOV KCRM SU
SUBJECT: NRF Claims it Shot Down SAF Antonov



1. (SBU) Late on August 7, the National Redemption Front (NRF)
claimed it shot down a Sudanese Armed Forces Antonov aircraft
earlier on August 7 near Seyah, roughly 85 km north of El Fasher.
UNDSS (strictly protect) has confirmed the incident, and said that
the aircraft made an emergency landing at the El Fasher airport,
with the pilot and co-pilot medevaced subsequently to Khartoum. Emb
Officers saw a white Antonov at the El Fasher airfield that had lost
a propeller and had sustained other damage, apparently the same
Antonov.


2. (U) The text of the NRF's statement is as follows:

(Begin text)

National Redemption Front

NRF Forces Shoot Down a Government Antanov Plane in Darfur

August 7, 2006 - Fresh news from Darfur, Monday 7th August confirms
that forces of the National Redemption Front (NRF) have shot down a
government Antanov plane over the town of Seyah in North Darfur.
Seyah, 30km north of Melit, was a site of a fierce battle yesterday
where the NRF scored a crushing defeat on invading forces belonging
to Minnawi, Janjaweed and the government of Khartoum. The Antanov
military plane, marked 24, was in a punitive mission to bomb the
civilians of Seyah town when it was shot down by the NRF.

Sudan government is in the habit of bombing innocent civilians every
time it loses a battle in Darfur. While Antanov planes are
hopelessly useless against forces of Darfur Movements, they can be
lethal against innocent civilians in their grass cottages.

NRF Secretariat

(End text)


3. (U) Reuters quotes a SAF spokesman as denying that a military
aircraft was damaged by rebel fire, and said that a SAF aircraft had
a mechanical problem and had managed to return safely to El Fasher.

HUME