UNAMID retracts denial of live fire exercises near El Fasher

November 16, 2008 (EL FASHER) – The United Nations – African Union
hybrid operation in Darfur (UNAMID) admitted that UNAMID forces had
conducted a routine live fire exercise between November 10 and 14 near
El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur.

“The information UNAMID had earlier on given denying any exercise of
that nature was inadvertently issued and the error is regretted,” said
a press statement.

The Sudanese Western Advance Command had announced through the Radio
of North Darfur that UNAMID forces would conduct the firing exercise
with live ammunition and warned citizens “to stay away from that area
to preserve their lives and property.” This announcement was a result
of information provided by UNAMID Police.

The unit that conducted the exercise was a UNAMID police unit, which
“conduct such regular exercises as part of their training and
deployment in Darfur and within a very limited shooting range,”
according to UNAMID.

The live fire exercises occurred in Derwat Fashar, east of El Fasher.

The present peacekeeping mission in Darfur was authorized by UN
Security Council resolution 1769 of July 31, 2007.

(ST)