Friday, May 29, 1998 Published at 16:20 GMT 17:20 UK
Sudan rebels claim big victory
The SPLA rebels have been fighting for 15 years the Sudanese government
Sudanese rebels say they have killed or wounded more than 300 government soldiers, in the biggest battle in a year.
Attempt to recapture towns
The BBC East Africa correspondent says the aim appears to have been to try to recapture towns lost earlier this month in the eastern province of Blue Nile.
On Thursday, the Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, visiting the second largest town in the south, said his government was determined "to free all regions occupied by the rebels, peacefully or by force".
SPLA claims strategic gains
The claimed victory opens the road for a rebel push from the south towards the hydroelectric dam at Damazin, which supplies power to the capital, Khartoum. Blue Nile province is also the back door to the oil producing area of Bentiu.
Unusually large battle
However there has been an upsurge since last month's peace talks in which both sides accepted a referendum on independence for the south, without agreeing a timetable.
Risk of famine remains
Apart from the clashes in Blue Nile, pro-government militia have been attacking into northern Bahr-el-Ghazal, a region which is the focus of an international relief effort.
The United Nations estimates that in that area alone, some 600,000 people are at risk from starvation.