The following is culled from the
clari.world.africa.western,clari.world.mideast+africa Newsgroups.

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ZIGUINCHOR, Senegal, June 23 (AFP) - Senegal has launched a huge military
operation to track down armed separatist rebels in the west African country's
southern Casamance region, a military source said Sunday.
   The army launched the operation in the Bignona department, northwest of the
Casmance capital Ziguinchor, on Friday in response to "recent acts by armed
rebel groups in the department that have threatened security," regional
military commander Moktar Gueye said in a statement.
   Casamance has been beset for 20 years by a separatist rebellion led by the
Casamance Movement of Democratic Forces (MFDC). Several ceasefires have been
agreed but none has lasted.
   On April 29, suspected rebels killed seven people and wounded four near
Bignona's village of Diouloulou.
   "The operation, which is part of the fight against all forms of bandit
groups on national territory, aims to restore state authority in certain parts
of the Bignona department," the statement said.
   Gueye has asked all residents to stay indoors while the army hunts down
rebels, it said.
   In a similar operation in early May, the military arrested 33 people
suspected of belonging to the MFDC.
   The MFDC split after its political leadership agreed on a ceasefire with
President Abdoulaye Wade's government in March last year.
   In October, separatist leaders warned the group was out of cash and claimed
that a resurgence in violence in Casamance was driven by hunger among MFDC
fighters.


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"Any one man, woman or child can be what they want
to be; but be the right thing."
                         -----Burning Spear------

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