Six policemen killed in rebel attack on Darfur camp

Nov 24, 2006 (KHARTOUM) — Six policemen have been killed and seven wounded in an attack by unknown rebels on a police camp in Sudan’s war-torn South Darfur state, a press report said Friday.

The attack on Wednesday night on Manwashy police camp, about 75km north of the state capital Nyala, was carried out by gunmen from an unidentified rebel group who arrived in 23 vehicles, South Darfur police commander Major General was quoted by the Al-Sudani daily as saying.

“An exchange of fire lasted one hour and a half after which the attackers withdrew and drove away carrying their dead and wounded along with them,” the police commander said.

No official source could be reached to confirm the report in which the independent daily, reporting from Nyala, mentioned the names of the victims.

According to the United Nations, 2,5 million people have been displaced and at least 200 000 people killed in the Darfur region from the combined effects of fighting, famine and disease since ethnic minority rebels rose up in early 2003. Some sources say the toll is much higher.

The Darfur fighting, pitting Sudanese government forces backed by Janjaweed Arab militias against the rebels, has begun to spill over into neighbouring Chad and the Central African Republic, putting tens of thousands of refugees and displaced people at risk.

(AFP)