Violence escalated in Sudan this week as the Justice and Equality Movement, a Darfuri rebel group, launched attacks in and around Khartoum.

Mohamed Suleiman, a leader of the Darfuri community in the U.S., submitted the following initial report on the violence in Khartoum and its sister city, Omdurman.

The Save Darfur Coalition calls on all sides and the international community to safeguard civilians.

Dear All,

This is what is happening now:

1- At check points Darfurians (mainly from Zaghawa tribe) are dragged from busses and cars, beaten in public before shoved into security covered vehicles.

2- paramilitary and security forces went from house to house in darfuri predominant neighborhoods (Umbada, Fitaihab, Libiya Market in Omdurman), arrest male darfurians (mainly from Zaghawa tribe), beaten and kicked in front of their families and children, some are beaten by the end of assault rifles, then thrown on the back of security trucks and taken away (not known where).

 3- There were summary executions of Darfuris ( mainly Zaghawa) and this some of the numbers reached us up to now:

- 17 were executed in Umbada (Omdurman)
- 5 were executed in Libya Market (Omdurman).
- 3 were executed in Fitaihab (Omdurman).
- 2 were executed in Khartoum Stadium (Khartoum).

I get names of disappeared. I am trying to put updated list. I get calls from all over the world from Darfuris with relatives in Khartoum area - all night.

Update on Darfur:
The Government unleashed the Janjaweed in central Darfur. I got news that Tawila village and surrounding villages were burnt in a fresh attack ( revenge to Khartoum incident). Still waiting on number and names of casualties among the villagers.

I will keep you posted.

Mohamed Suleiman