KHARTOUM, Sudan - Darfur rebels attacked an oil field in a rare extension of their campaign eastwards toward the Sudanese capital and said Monday the military garrison guarding the field had surrendered.

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir addresses journalists from various Western capitals in a three-hour long video conference on Monday, Nov. 27 in Khartoum, Sudan. [AP]

But the government said its forces repelled the assault and were in full control of the Abu Jabra oil field Monday.

The attack on the field on the edge of South Darfur appeared to be another sign that Darfur's violence was spreading across the region.

"The government garrison guarding the oil field was totally destroyed," the National Redemption Front rebel group said in a statement. "Numerous soldiers, including high-ranking officers and generals, have surrendered," the rebels said, claiming to have shot down an army helicopter and to have captured a "substantial amount" of weapons and military vehicles.

A Sudanese military spokesman denied the army had surrendered, saying its troops had "inflicted heavy causalities on the rebels, who withdrew from the area." He spoke on condition of anonymity in line with official policy.

The rebel raid came amid heightened violence in Darfur, where pro-government janjaweed militia have been accused by the United Nations of forcing 60,000 people to flee their homes this month. Violence in Darfur over three years has killed 200,000 people and displaced 2.5 million.

1

2