Darfur peacekeepers attacked

Updated 20.34 Wed Jul 09 2008

Keywords: United Nations, Darfur, African Union, Sudan

Gunmen in Darfur have ambushed and killed seven peacekeepers and wounded 22 others.

Soldiers and police from a joint UN and African Union (UNAMID) mission were ambushed by about 30 vehicles full of armed militia in the north of the troubled Sudanese region on Tuesday while on a routine patrol.

The soldiers and police from a joint UN and African Union (UNAMID) mission were ambushed by about 30 vehicles full of armed militia in the north of the troubled Sudanese region on Tuesday while on a routine patrol

Spokeswoman Michele Montas said the attack lasted two hours and the assailants used heavy weapons in the worst direct assault on UNAMID forces since it began work on December 31.

She said: "The secretary-general condemns in the strongest possible terms this unacceptable act of extreme violence against AU-UN peacekeepers in Darfur and calls on the government of Sudan to do its utmost to ensure that the perpetrators are swiftly identified and brought to justice."

Darfur's main rebel groups, including the Justice and Equality Movement and the Sudan Liberation Movement Unity faction, denied any involvement.

Arab militias mobilised by Khartoum to quell a revolt by non-Arab rebels in 2003 have been hostile to UN troops in the past.

While some have become disillusioned with the government and turned against it, most have retained their weapons and many have been incorporated into official Sudanese military units.

At full strength, the UNAMID mission would be the world's largest UN-funded peacekeeping operation with 26,000 soldiers and police, but it has less than 10,000 personnel on the ground.

UNAMID commanders have urged the international community to provide troops quickly to reinforce the mission.

They have also asked industrialised nations to provide vital equipment such as attack helicopters to help restore law and order in Darfur.