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By Andrew Heavens

KHARTOUM (Reuters) - Darfur rebels said on Tuesday they had fought off a major assault from Sudanese government forces in the troubled region, inflicting casualties and pushing troops back to West Darfur's capital.

International sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed reports of fighting in the area, but no was immediately available for comment from the Sudanese Armed Forces.

"They attacked us because they wanted to show that they controlled the area. But it is not true. This is JEM territory," Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) leader Khalil Ibrahim told Reuters.

Darfur has been beset by unrest since early 2003 when mostly non-Arab rebels took up arms against Khartoum, accusing the central government of neglect.

International experts say 200,000 people have died and 2.5 million driven from their homes. Rebel splits and the government's mobilisation of mostly Arab tribal militia, including the Janjaweed, against the rebels has created a chaotic mix of armed groups and a breakdown of law and order.

Khartoum accuses the western media of exaggerating the conflict and puts the death count at 9,000.

Ibrahim said the attack began at midday and the fighting had concluded a few hours later on land between Jabel Moun and the town of Suleia in West Darfur.

"We defeated them. They have retreated to El Geneina. An enormous number of their soldiers were killed," he added.

Ibrahim, speaking by phone from the region, said it was too early to get exact numbers of casualties. JEM spokesman Ahmed Hussein said a number of government captives were taken and 10 vehicles seized.

If confirmed, the clash would be the latest in a series of battles between JEM and Sudanese forces in West Darfur, a remote region bordering Chad.

The Sudanese government last month said it had cleared rebels out of parts of West Darfur after a "cleansing operation" that included air and ground attacks on the three towns of Sirba, Suleia and Abu Surouj and later the mountainous Jabel Moun area.

JEM and other forces said they retained control of large areas of land and have pushed back government offensives.

Khartoum accuses its neighbour Chad of arming JEM forces along their mutual border - a claim denied by JEM and Chad.

Darfur's revolt promoted a resurgency of neighbouring Chad's civil war, with both capitals accusing each other of fanning the flames of the conflicts. (For full Reuters Africa coverage and to have your say on the top issues, visit: http://africa.reuters.com/ ) (Editing by Matthew Jones)

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