A senior rebel leader in Sudan's western Darfur region said on Tuesday the government killed 10 fighters and at least the same number of civilians in attacks aimed at derailing upcoming peace talks.
An armed forces spokesman denied government forces were involved in any attacks in Darfur in the run up to peace talks in the Nigerian capital Abuja on September 15.
"The government has attacked us for three days ... First there is shelling and then the government's militias attack us," Abdel Wahed Mohamed al-Nur, chairman of the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) told Reuters.
"The government wants the talks to fail," he added.
Nur said the government was attacking SLA positions west of Sheng al-Tobei village, which is around 65 km (40 miles) south of El-Fasher, capital of North Darfur state.
"Ten SLA soldiers and 10 civilians have so far died," Nur said, adding government forces last bombarded the SLA on Tuesday morning.