UN mission condemns attack on African force in Sudan’s Darfur

September 30, 2007 (KHARTOUM) — The United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) Sunday strongly condemned an attack by unidentified militants on a position of the African Union (AU) peacekeeping force in Darfur.

“UNMIS is shocked at the unprecedented scale of the attack,” the UNMIS said in a statement, terming the attack as “unprovoked and barbaric.”

On Saturday evening, a large number of unidentified armed persons carried out an attack on a position of the AU peacekeeping force at Haskanita in South Darfur State, killing more than 10 peacekeepers and wounding seven others.

In addition, a number of AU peacekeepers have been reported missing and additionally equipment, vehicles and property of the peacekeeping force have also been vandalized or looted.

“UNMIS expresses its condolences to the AU Mission in Sudan ( AMIS) and the families of the soldiers who lost their lives while carrying out their noble duty in support of the people of Darfur, and wishes speedy recovery to those who were wounded,” the statement added.

The attack took place at a time when the international community, including the AU and the UN, is exerting maximum effort to resume peace talks Darfur in Libya on October 27 and to deploy the UN-AU hybrid peacekeeping force in Darfur to help put an end to the conflict.

UNMIS reiterated that “attacks on AMIS constitute a serious violation of international law and relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council and the AU.

It urged all concerned to assist in identifying the perpetrators so they could be held accountable without delay.

(Xinhua)