Sudan wants rebel group deemed terrorists

KHARTOUM, Sudan, May 14 (UPI) -- Sudanese officials said Wednesday they want to see the Darfur rebel group that attacked last weekend near Khartoum listed as a terrorist group.

Fighters from the Justice and Equality Movement raided Khartoum's twin city, Omdurman, Saturday coming as close to the Sudanese capital than it has in five years of conflict.

Sudanese officials blamed neighboring Chad for backing the group and severed formal diplomatic ties with the country. Mutrif Siddiq, a Sudanese Foreign Ministry official, said the rebel raid on the capital was an attempt to launch a coup and pointed to evidence he claims proves the Darfur group is a terrorist organization, the BBC said Wednesday.

Authorities in Chad denied the allegations but closed its border to Sudan in response saying it feared retaliation.

Nigerian Gen. Martin Luther Agwai, who commands a U.N.-African Union peacekeeping force, says the latest conflict puts any hopes of peace in limbo because his forces are needed in border regions.

"The peace process will be put to the back burner," he said.