Sudan severs ties with Chad

KHARTOUM, Sudan, May 11 (UPI) -- Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir said Sunday his country severed formal diplomatic ties with neighboring Chad following a raid on the Sudanese capital.

Rebels with the opposition Justice and Equality Movement invaded northwestern Khartoum Saturday, engaging the Sudanese military and national police.

Sudanese officials said their forces captured and killed several militants, crushing the rebellion, and ultimately blamed Chad for the invasion, China's official Xinhua news agency reported.

"Sudan holds Chad responsible for what had happened and reserve the right for responding," Bashir said.