Khartoum - Sudanese forces attacked rebel positions in north Darfur for a second day running yesterday, for- cing civilians to flee, insurgent groups said.

Khartoum - Sudanese forces attacked rebel positions in north Darfur for a second day running yesterday, for- cing civilians to flee, insurgent groups said.

On Saturday Sudan's armed forces denied carrying out activity in the area.

But leaders from two rebel factions said that Sudanese army soldiers, in up to 60 vehicles, attacked rebel positions around Dobo and Aradim, about 75km of the capital of North Darfur El Fasher yesterday.

Fighters from two factions of the insurgent Sudan Liberation Army said fighting had taken place in the same area on Saturday and around two settlements close to Kutum.

"The shooting has started again. Hundreds are fleeing," said Ibrahim al-Helwu of the Sudan Liberation Movement.

Al-Helwu said up to 60 civilians, soldiers and rebels had died in attacks north of Kutum.

Reports of the attacks came as Sudan was stepping up diplomatic efforts to delay or squash a move by the International Criminal Court to indict the country's president for genocide in Darfur.

International experts say five years of fighting has killed 200000 and displaced 2,5million from their homes.

Khartoum has accused the media of exaggerating the conflict and puts the death count at 10 000. - Reuters