Sudan's counter-insurgency forces have arrested a powerful militia chief from Darfur accused by the United Nations of human rights abuses in the war-torn region, the official news agency said Monday.

Musa Hilal, a former aide to President Omar al-Bashir, was arrested by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) near his hometown of Mustariaha in the state of North Darfur after fierce fighting, SUNA reported State Minister of Defence Lieutenant General Ali Mohamed Salem as saying.