Rebels form alliance to remove prisident

Rebels form alliance to remove prisident

Rebels in Sudan's Darfur region and in the troubled border states of Blue Nile and South Kordofan have formed an alliance to overthrow the government of President Omar al-Bashir.

A statement released by the rebels’ alliance, called the Sudanese Revolutionary Front, is bent on "toppling the regime of the Sudan's ruling National Congress Party with all possible means" and replacing it with a democratic system.

Alliance co-ordination

A joint military committee will be formed to co-ordinate military action against Khartoum, said the alliance, without elaborating.

"This is a military and political alliance. We will co-ordinate fighting to end this government which wants no peace," said Ibrahim el-Hilu, a spokesman for one faction of the Sudan Liberation Army, a rebel group in Darfur.

The declaration of war on Khartoum raised the prospect of more violence in the volatile areas.

It comes nearly a week after Bashir visited Kurmuk in Blue Nile after his troops seized the town from a branch of the Sudan People's Liberation Army North (SPLA-N).

Analysts say the move signalled attempts at closer military co-ordination among various rebel groups left in Sudan after South Sudan seceded in July under a 2005 peace agreement with Khartoum.

Khartoum has held several rounds of talks with rebels in the western region of Darfur to try to resolve the conflict, which began in 2003 after the main rebel group there - the Justice for Equality Movement - complained of marginalisation.

ALJAZEERA/Williams