Elite Troops Deployed in Sudan's Second-Largest City

Elite troops have been deployed in Sudan's second-largest city after days of violence among members of the security forces, as residents begin the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in fear of new clashes.

An Agence France Presse correspondent was the first from a foreign news organisation to arrive in Nyala, the capital of South Darfur state, since the worst outbreak of urban warfare in Sudan's far-west region in recent memory.

Most fighting in Darfur has occurred in poverty-stricken rural regions and smaller communities.

State officials blamed "differences" among members of the security forces for the battles which began inside Nyala on July 3.

Fighting left a war crimes suspect wounded and killed two Sudanese World Vision aid workers, among others.

Travelling into the city about six kilometers (four miles) from the Nyala airport, the correspondent said he counted about 12 gun-mounted SUV vehicles belonging to the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) -- the country's most elite forces, which are separate from the army.

Up to 10 troops were stationed with each gun car.

"It is calm but we don't trust this calm because everyone has weapons, and they are not under control. They can use them at any time," one resident said, afraid to give his name.

Fighting in Nyala was sparked last week when security forces allegedly killed a notorious local bandit who was also an officer in the paramilitary Central Reserve Police.

Darfuri members of the Reserve formerly belonged to the Janjaweed, a government-backed militia which shocked the world with atrocities against ethnic minority civilians suspected of supporting rebels.

The ethnic minority rebels began their uprising against the Arab-dominated Khartoum regime in 2003.

Security problems have been compounded by inter-tribal fighting, kidnappings, carjackings and other crimes, many suspected to be the work of government-linked militia and paramilitary groups.

A curfew is in effect from midnight but masked gunmen on Tuesday night kidnapped a local businessman, Issa Adam, as he drove with his family, a relative said.

Adam operates a large shop in one of the city's main markets, selling sorghum and other essential commodities, the relative said.

Signs of the recent fighting are obvious in the city.

Behind the locked gates of the World Vision compound, numerous small holes from bullets or shrapnel could be seen in the walls of a villa which served as the group's office, until a suspected rocket-propelled grenade exploded last Thursday.

It left two staffers of the aid group dead and a third critically wounded.

The two-story courthouse, one of the city's largest buildings, is also bullet-scarred, as is Nyala's best hotel, the Coral.

About 20 riot policemen with an armored vehicle protected the local branch of the Central Bank, which was open for business on Wednesday.

Hardship faces Nyala residents as they begin the Ramadan month of dawn-to-dusk fasting.

They said the city has been without electricity for two days.

A taxi driver reported the price of petrol at 50 Sudanese pounds ($7) a gallon (4.5 liters), or about four times the price in the capital Khartoum.

Fuel reaching Nyala is subject to attack during its overland journey across Darfur.

AFP saw one petrol station partly-burned and shut.

Others remained open but cars and three-wheeled taxis queued for about one kilometer waiting to buy fuel, the reporter said.

Despite the tensions, people are trying to carry on with their lives.

Students were in the streets walking to and from school.

A main market in the town was operating.

But another commercial area remains shut after it was burned and looted on Sunday, as residents ran for their lives during fresh fighting.

That same day Ali Kushayb, a former commander of the Janjaweed, was left wounded during an attack which reportedly killed two of his men, local sources said.

Kushayb is wanted on 51 counts by The Hague-based International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity and war crimes allegedly committed against Darfur civilians in 2003 and 2004.

Security has worsened in Darfur this year, the United Nations says.