Sudanese Rebels Fight for Control of Capital

Darfur rebels battled Sudanese soldiers today in a rare bid for control of Sudan's capital, Reuters reports. The military later claimed victory and said just a few militants had reached Khartoum. "Thank God this attempt has been completely defeated," a government spokesman said.

But a rebel said earlier that insurgents were close to toppling President Omar Hassan al-Bashir. "We are now trying to control Khartoum. God willing we will take power, it's just a matter of time," one senior commander said. Today’s advance marked the closest the rebels have come to seizing the capital city. (More Sudan stories.)