The SRF attack took place just hours after the failure of a round of mediated negotiations in Addis Ababa between the Sudanese government and the Sudanese Peoples Liberation Movement-North. The talks were sponsored by the African Union.  About 40 armoured military vehicles took part in the attack, which was the largest in Sudan since the fighting in Darfur State. Umm Ruwaba has never been attacked by any of the rebels before.  Analysts believe that this is an attempt by the rebels to flare-up the conflict in the heart of Sudan to thwart the efforts of the government as it tries to deal with the resultant chaos. Ten people, including seven police officers, were killed in Saturday’s attack, according to the state-run media.  The conflict between the Sudanese government and Sudanese Peoples Liberation Movement-North broke out in the summer of 2011. According to the New York Times, most of the rebels of this movement, which used to fight alongside the South Sudanese rebels before South Sudan gained its independence two years ago, come from the Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile State in Sudan. Most of the rebels of the Sudanese Revolutionary Front are from the states of Darfur, South Kurdofan and Blue Nile.

via Sudanese lash out at army for failing to face rebel attacks.  I love also the circular newspapering, where the New York Times is a source!