South Sudanese rebels killed over 200 government soldiers when the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) captured the southern town of Kapoeta during the weekend, SPLA leader John Garang said Tuesday.
The rebel leader told journalists the commander of the garrison at Kapoeta was amongst those who died when his forces captured the town on Sunday.
The SPLA took "28 prisoners, including the doctor of the garrison," and sustained casualties of "13 killed and 28 wounded" in their own ranks.
Kapoeta, 80 around kilometers north of the border with Kenya, had been under government control since 1993.
"It is a major disaster for the government and a major victory for the SPLA, " Garang said, according to AFP.
His SPLA has been fighting against successive governments in the Arab and Muslim north since 1983 for self-determination in the mainly Christian and animist south.
Recently, Sudanese President Omar al-Beshir vowed to finish the country's civil war by the end of the year, either through negotiations or arms. (albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
