Sudanese minister visits South Kordofan

Sudanese defence minister Abdel-Rahim Mohamed Hussein has confirmed that providing security in the state of South Kordofan, is one of the government's top priorities. In a visit to the state on Thursday, Hussein pledged to provide all forms of support required to tackle the war being waged by the northern sector of the Sudan Peoples' Liberation Movement (SPLM-N). The minister said that President Omar al-Bashir wanted him to check on the armed forces. He held a private meeting with the army leaders, and had a long meeting with members of the state government, where he reviewed the detailed security report. Sources in the state told Arabstoday about the reinforcements, with plans to increase the presence of the armed forces. Hussein also visited state capital Kadugli, after it was the target of rocket attacks in the last few days. Sources said that the armed forces were able to reclaim a number of strategic areas in the state, most recently the area of Ddakko, which became one of the largest insurgent strongholds. The armed forces are moving forward to stop the expansion of the insurgency, which bombed neighbourhoods within Kadugli more than seven times. Central government in Khartoum has accused Juba of getting involved in the ongoing struggle with the SPLM-N. Juba has labelled such claims as "false and inaccurate." On Wednesday, SPLM-N criticised the regime in Sudan, and called on people living in the capital to confront the ruling National Congress Party and topple it.