Friday, November 17, 2006

Darfur survivors tell of Janjaweed slaughter

By Stephanie Hancock

SENEIT, Chad-Sudan border, Nov 17 (Reuters) - "They attacked without warning at dawn," Ismail Abdallah Cherif said in a matter-of-fact way.

"There were many of them. They came on horses and camels. Without asking any questions they just opened fire. Some people were in their beds, others were making tea. The Janjaweed made no distinction. Children, women, grandmothers -- everyone was targeted. Only those who hid were saved," he said.

Like many hundreds of others, Cherif has fled over the border to Chad since the attack by the Janjaweed militia on his village of Khabesh in the Jebel Moon area of West Darfur.

A United Nations human rights report says 22 people were killed in Khabesh, one of many villages attacked simultaneously on Oct. 29 by the Janjaweed, a largely Arab militia allied to Sudan's government troops in Darfur's war.

The government says the Janjaweed are bandits and denies any links to them.

"They raped our daughters and stole our cattle. I lost ... my brother, two children and a nephew and niece," said Alima, 30, who did not wish her family name to be published. Read more >>>

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