Sudan armies in helicopter row

Khartoum, 25 Nov-(ANA)-The Southern Sudanese army says four of its men and two civilians have been wounded by gunfire from a northern helicopter.

It accused the Khartoum government of trying to derail a planned referendum on possible southern independence.

However a spokesman for the northern armed forces denied that any clashes had taken place.

A fragile ceasefire has held since 2005, but tension is growing in the run-up to January's referendum.

"Today SAF [northern armed forces] helicopter gunships attacked our position, injuring four soldiers and two civilians," southern army spokesman Philip Aguer said.

"The SAF is trying to drag Sudan back into war again and to disrupt or prevent the referendum."

But he said the southern army was committed to the ceasefire and would not respond militarily.(ANA)

FA/ANA/25 November 2010------