Sudan accuses Chad of supplying Darfur rebels

By Andrew Heavens

KHARTOUM (Reuters) - Sudan accused Chadian forces on Thursday of entering its Darfur region to ferry supplies to rebels involved in a recent surge of fighting.

Chad denied the accusation.

Relations between the oil-producing neighbours are on a knife edge after Chad earlier this week said Sudan was backing a new insurgent coalition against the N'Djamena government.

Both countries accused each other of using rebels to launch proxy attacks on their capitals last year -- although Khartoum and N'Djamena resumed shaky diplomatic relations in November.

Sudan's state minister of information, Kamal Obeid, released a statement saying Chadian forces had entered Darfur to take supplies to the rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM).

Obeid said forces linked to Chad's "Republican Guard" had set out to reach JEM forces stationed outside North Darfur's capital El Fasher, the scene of clashes between Sudan's army and JEM earlier this week, but Chad said it was not true.

"The government of Chad categorically denies any involvement in internal clashes in Sudan and is shocked at the link Khartoum is trying to make between Chad and these events," Chadian Communications Minister Mahamat Hissene said in a statement.

Sudan's Obeid said Chadian forces had also tried to supply rebel forces in Muhajiriya, a town in South Darfur that JEM seized earlier this month.