Sudan’s Darfur rebels attack UN plane

KHARTOUM, June 28, 2005 (Sudan Tribune) — Darfur rebels have attacked an Antonov plane belonging to the UN in Labadu area in Southern Darfur State in western Sudan. The plane was on its way from Khartoum to the capital of Southern Darfur State, Nyala.

A displaced Sudanese woman carries her belonging as a U.N. vehicle passes at the Abu Shouk camp, in north Darfur, Sudan, Aug. 27, 2004. (AP).

The African Union blamed the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) for the attack. An informed source said JEM had used a bomb to carry out the attack, the pro governmental newspaper Al-Anba said

The state police commissioner, Gen. Abidin al-Tahir, said 30 UN officials, including some Sudanese nationals, were on board of the aircraft. However, he added, the plane was able to land safely at Nyala Airport and no casualties had been reported. He further said an investigation into the incident was now under way.

He explained that in their preliminary statements, the passengers had said the plane had been shot at from the ground but only one of its windows had broken. He affirmed that investigations would continue: “We are now waiting for a report from the Civil Aviation technical body of investigation”, he added.

For his part, the armed forces spokesman, Gen Abbas Abdelrahman, said no armed forces were present in the area where the incident took place and the people who had carried out the attack were thought to be outlaws.

Material provided by the BBC Monitoring Service.