Sudan - Tragedy.

Sudanese air forces killed at least 11 people in bombing raids on Christian villages in South Kordofan over Christmas.

Between December 18 and 26, Sudanese government planes bombed more than ten villages, some several times, in the Nuba mountains where there is a large Christian population. Local sources also report that 13 bombs were dropped on Buram village as recently as Monday. Worst hit was Kauda town where 28 bombs were dropped by two Antonov aircraft on December 21, although there were no reported casualties there.
The 11 confirmed dead were all Christian and included two women and six children. Among those injured was a pastor, Ayube Ibrahim, from Kauda. More than 35 people were killed in South Kordofan in November (Prayer Alert, December 5).
Khartoum says it has been targeting South Kordofan since June 2011 because it is a rebel stronghold for the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM – North). However, many, including the black African Nuba people, consider the raids to be part of a campaign to rid Sudan of non-Arabs and Christianity. The people of South Kordofan, who are traditionally pro-southern, were denied a referendum on secession promised under the 2005 peace deal. (Release International.)