Witnesses, government accounts differ on killings near Asaliya

Witness reported that the government army killed fourteen civilians and several cattle at the well called Kalikal Mojo, which lies in west of Asaliya in south Darfur on Sunday. The witnesses said the soldiers shot directly at the civilians on the assumption that there were thieves among them. One of the witnesses stated that the force which opened fire did not question the citizens, but surprised them by shooting immediately, which caused the death of people and cattle.

On another account, Abdul Hamid Musa Kasha, the governor of South Darfur, confirmed in a press statement that what happened was an incident of armed robbery which led to casualties.  He added that the incident happened on a vehicle carrying passengers on the Hijlija-Yassin road and stated that a group of citizens have moved to track the shooters but fell in a trap arranged by the attackers who looted them and fired on them, leading to the death of the victims. He also pointed out that the government of South Darfur responded by militarily reinforcing the area and sending an army force to track the attackers.