Sudan denies breaking peace deal

African Union forces have not found it easy in Darfur

The Sudanese authorities have denied rebel accusations that they have broken this month's peace deal by attacking and looting a village in Darfur.

The region's largest rebel group, which signed the deal with the government, said the army and Arab militias had launched the raid in North Darfur.

The BBC's Alfred Taban in Khartoum says the reported attack is very bad news for the peace deal.

More than 2m people have fled their homes during the three-year conflict.

North Darfur governor Osman Mohamed Kibir told the BBC that the accusations of army involvement were groundless.

But our correspondent says that aid agencies working in the region have backed up the rebel claims.

Humanitarian crisis

The African Union, which brokered the peace deal, also says there has been a spate of deadly attacks in the past week.

"The problem seems to be that everyone wants to maximise their territory before the truce and disarmament actually come into effect," AU spokesman Moussa Hamani told the AP news agency.

He was however, referring to different clashes, which he said took place in South Darfur.

Two smaller rebel groups have been given until the end of the month to sign the peace deal or face possible UN sanctions.

But our correspondent says the latest attacks will strengthen their position.

The agreement, struck after lengthy negotiations, calls for the disbandment of rebel forces and the disarmament of the pro-government Janjaweed militia.

The rebels took up arms in February 2003, accusing the government of discriminating against Darfur's black Africans in favour of Arabs.

The United States says the army and the Janjaweed then unleashed a "genocide" in Darfur, driving people from their homes and still attacking them in refugee camps.

Aid agencies say Darfur is one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. A lack of money and insecurity mean aid workers cannot reach parts of the region.

Sudan denies arming the Arab militias and says the problems have been exaggerated.