Sudan accuses Israel of launching airstrike

KHARTOUM - Sudanese government spokesman Ahmed Bilal Osman said Wednesday that the arms factory in Khartoum bombarded Tuesday was a "traditional factory producing traditional weapons," accusing Israel of launching the air strike to "cripple the capabilities of Sudan."

"Israel is behind the attack against Al-Yarmouk Arms Factory Complex yesterday evening," said Bilal, also the Sudanese information minister, said Wednesday at a press conference here.

The official said a formation of four aircrafts carried out the air attack against the complex, adding that "the attack resulted in a partial destruction of the complex. The attacking planes have used a highly sophisticated technology to avoid antiaircrafts."

He further announced that two people were killed and another injured in the air strike.

"The factory, which was bombarded by four Israeli planes, is a traditional factory, producing traditional weapons," said Bilal, adding that "apparently the objective behind the Israeli air strike against Al-Yarmouk complex was to cripple the capabilities of the Sudanese government, but we will press ahead resolutely to achieve aspirations of our people."

The minister said the complex would be moved out of the Sudanese capital, saying that "we are concerned with the security and safety of our citizens and therefore we will work to immediately move the complex outside the capital."

An explosion occurred late Tuesday at Al-Yarmouk complex, which lies in a populated area about 14 km south of the Sudanese capital Khartoum, causing a huge fire and sending plumes of smoke into the sky, the official Sudanese Radio reported.

Bilal said his government maintains the right to respond to the attack. "We maintain the right to respond to what happened. It is true that we don't have high military capabilities, but we will respond to this attack," he said.

"The government will adopt the followed measures in such cases. We will adopt the diplomatic means and escalate the matter to the UN Security Council," he said.