Chad closes border with Sudan, freezes economic relations

N'DJAMENA, May 13 (Xinhua) -- The Chadian authorities have moved to formally close the common border with Sudan and freeze all the existing economic relations between the two countries following heightened tensions, according to official sources.

The decision, which appears to be in response to Khartoum's move to sever diplomatic relations with Chad Sunday, was announced following an extraordinary cabinet meeting on Monday.

"The decision was taken to ensure the security of Chad and its citizens, to protect its economic and cultural interests" and also "to preempt any surprises," said a statement issued at the end of government meeting presided by President Idriss Deby Itno.

The government has decided to "seal the eastern border (with Sudan) to avoid infiltration," said the statement, adding that the "activities of the Agricultural Commercial Bank (a Chadian-based Sudanese bank) and financial transactions between Chad and Sudan had also been banned."

On Sunday, Sudan broke its diplomatic relations with Chad, accusing N'Djamena of supporting an attack that was conducted against Khartoum on Saturday by the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), the most militarily powerful of rebel groups based in the war-ravaged western Sudanese region of Darfur.

"We attribute the responsibility for the attack to Chad," Sudanese President Omar el-Bashir had said shortly after the attack, but Chadian authorities have denied "any involvement" in the attack.

The government, which has designated Libya to "represent its interests in Sudan," has also decided "to prohibit the export of live cattle and any national product through Sudan," said the statement.

"This measure will apply to all, including the herders who must now restrict their movements to the national territory without crossing the border into Sudan," according to the statement. Many Chadian farmers normally sell their cattle and products to their Sudanese counterparts.

"Finally, the government reserves itself the right to consider taking any other measures that could ensure security, independence and peace in Chad," said the statement.

On Sunday, the Chadian government had announced that it had learned "with great surprise" of the Sudanese decision to sever diplomatic relations and had taken "note of the hasty decision with regret."

Over the past five years, the two neighboring countries have maintained very tense and turbulent relations. The countries, which have been trading wild accusations, are at loggerheads over the presence of two simmering rebellions inside their respective territories.

Earlier this year, N'Djamena had accused Sudan of having "ordered" three Chadian rebel outfits to form an alliance ahead of a largely successful onslaught on N'Djamena that was designed to topple the regime of President Deby on Feb. 2 and 3.

Shortly afterwards, the leaders of the two countries, following much prodding from African leaders, met on the sidelines of an Islamic conference in Dakar and signed a peace agreement that was described as the "Final Solution" by Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade.

The agreement, according to many regional analysts, has now befallen a fate keen to a series of other previously signed accords that were never implemented or honored mainly due to deeply-seated mistrust between the two countries.

UNITED NATIONS, May 10 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon Saturday strongly condemned the attacks by a Sudanese rebel group on the country's capital Khartoum.

In a statement issued by his press office, Ban expressed "grave concern at the outbreak of fighting on the outskirts of Khartoum as a result of the reported attacks by Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) forces against the capital." Full story

YAOUNDE, May 10 (Xinhua) -- The Chadian government on Saturday denied allegations of involvement in the attack by Darfur rebels on the Sudanese capital Khartoum, according to reports reaching here.

The Chadian government "denies any involvement in this adventure, which it condemns unreservedly," government spokesman Mahamat Hissene said in a statement released in the Chadian capital N'Djamena. Full story

WASHINGTON, May 10 (Xinhua) -- The United States Saturday condemned the rebel attacks in Sudan and called for an immediate end to the fighting.

"The United States condemns the recent attack by Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) forces in the area of Omdurman, near Khartoum," the State Department said in a statement. Full story

KHARTOUM, May 10 (Xinhua) -- A cautious calm returned to the Sudanese capital at midnight following a fighting between the army troops and rebels coming from the restive western Sudanese region of Darfur, in which a number of the rebels were killed.

Soldiers and policemen on armed personnel carriers and military vehicles were patrolling the streets while more troops were stationed along the main roads and important traffic points to safeguard the city. Full story

KHARTOUM, May 10 (Xinhua) -- Khartoum announced on Saturday evening that the Sudanese army and police had crushed an infiltration attempt of rebels coming from the restive western Sudanese region of Darfur.

In a statement, Police Spokesman Mohamed Abdel-Mageed al-Tayeb declared that remnants of the forces of rebel Khalil Ibrahim that attempted to infiltrate to the capital were "repulsed". Full story

KHARTOUM, May 10 (Xinhua) -- The Sudanese government confirmed fighting taking place on Saturday between army troops and rebels coming from the restive western Sudanese region of Darfur in the capital Khartoum.

In a statement, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) said that the army troops "confront infiltrators of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) in northern Omdurman area."Full story

KHARTOUM, May 10 (Xinhua) -- The Sudanese government announced on Saturday a curfew in Khartoum only minutes after explosions and gun shots were heard in Omdurman area in northwestern Khartoum.

The Sudanese Ministry of Interior Affairs said in a statement that the curfew was imposed in Khartoum from 5 p.m. (1400 GMT) until 6 a.m. (0300 GMT).Full story

KHARTOUM, May 9 (Xinhua) -- The Sudanese army announced on Friday that it had received information of an imminent plot by a Darfur rebel group to attack the capital Khartoum and other major cities in the African country.

The army said in a statement that it has received information on "preparations made by rebel Khalil Ibrahim to conduct sabotage attempt and a publicity stunt through infiltrating the capital and other towns."