Sudan Cuts Ties With Chad After Surprise Rebel Attack

Sudan today severed ties with Chad, charging that the nation aided hundreds of Darfur rebels who launched a surprise assault on the Khartoum suburb of Omdurman late yesterday. Khartoum and Omdurman were heavily guarded and under curfew after the assault hundreds of miles from rebel bases in the west. Sudanese leaders assured residents that the threat was over. Chad has denied involvement.

"I would like to assure people that everything is now under control, the rebel forces have been totally destroyed," said Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir in a televised address. "These forces come from Chad who trained them. "We have no choice but to sever relations."