KHARTOUM, Sudan, Nov. 13 (UPI) -- Military operations are under way to end rebellions in three southern provinces of Sudan, the country's defense minister says.
Abdel-Rahim Mohamed Hussein said troops were moving into Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile "to end the rebellion once and for good," the Sudan Tribune reported Tuesday.
Testifying before Parliament, Hussein said the ability of Sudanese armed forces to deal with the rebellion in Darfur had been undercut by being pulled away to deal with tribal clashes with which police had been unable to deal.
He claimed the Sudan Revolutionary Front planned to kill and kidnap government officials in the province as well as stage attacks against major cities.
Hussein added the regions' rebellions, ethnic conflict and criminal activity constituted a real security threat.
SRF forces have about 1,000 troops and more than 130 vehicles in South Kordofan, he said, while another rebel group, Sudanese People's Liberation Movement/North, has 18 battalions with about 8,000 troops.
Hussein said the government has signed peace agreements with two armed groups in west and central Darfur states.
