KHARTOUM - Sudan accused Chad today of mounting a second series of air strikes on its territory and said the conflict between the African neighbours must be resolved politically.
"This morning at 10:30 local time (0730 GMT), another visit took place on the same location and using the same method," Sudanese army spokesman Othman al-Aghbash told reporters.
The conflict between Sudan and Chad "cannot be resolved by military methods, it must be resolved through political means," he said, appearing to tone down Friday’s threat of a possible military response.
On Friday, Sudan accused Chad of mounting air strikes 60 kilometres within Sudanese territory but Chad hit back swiftly saying Khartoum was "the robber who cries thief."
Aghbach also denied the presence of any Chadian armed groups in Sudan following charges by some diplomats that Sudanese-backed Chadian rebels who had launched an offensive on Ndjamena on May 4 had retreated back into Sudan.
Chad has accused Sudan of supporting rebels seeking to oust President Idriss Deby Itno, while Khartoum has accused Ndjamena of backing ethnic minority rebels in the western Sudanese province of Darfur.
Peace between Chad and Sudan is regarded as essential to any lasting settlement to the six-year-old conflict in Darfur.
Sudan blamed Chad on Sunday of launching an air strike on its territory, a day after accusing the country of mounting two other raids.

"This morning at 10.30 local time 0.730 GMT, another visit took place on the same location and using the same method," said Othman al-Aghbash, a spokesman for the Sudanese army.

Sudan also accused Chad earlier on Friday of launching a pair of airstrikes  into Sudanese territory. Chad promptly dismissed the accusations, claiming that Sudan was "the robber who cries thief."

Ali Youssef Ahmed, the head of the Sudanian foreign ministry, called the Friday air strikes an "act of war". He did not comment on whether Sudan was considering to retaliate to the alleged attacks, only saying that "we are considering all options."

A spokesman for the Chadian government told reporters that "is surprised to learn that the regime in Khartoum is protesting against action by the Chadian air force on Sudanese territory". A confrontation would be "simply the consequence of the attack on Chad organised by Sudan, using mercenaries armed, trained, financed and directed by satellite by the Khartoum regime", he said.