Rebels kill Sudan official in border state

Rebels kill Sudan official, 7 others in border state. Rebels killed a Sudanese state official and seven other people in the oil-producing border state of South Kordofan, the SUNA state news agency said on Friday.  Serving as the speaker of South Kordofan parliament, Ibrahim Blendiah, was the most senior official to be killed since fighting began in the region a year ago.
Blendiah was ambushed in Kuttn, a village located at 37 km south of Dilling. Seven people accompanying him were also killed including Faisal Bashir, secretary general of the state’s strategic planning council, Ali Mattar, former commissioner of Shaikan town, an Abdel Rahaman Kabsour, a cameraman and three drivers.
Sudanese authorities accused the rebel Sudan people’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) of murdering Blendiah, but the rebel group denied any link with the incident.
In another development, Sudanese Police "attacked" demonstrators with tear gas and rubber bullets, according to a local rights group.