Khartoum might be behind deadly attack on Darfur peacekeepers – UN

July 11, 2008 (UNITED NATIONS) — UN peacekeeping department top official told the Security Council Friday that the deadly attack on Darfur peacekeepers was a “well-prepared” operation conducted in a government-controlled area.

Jean-Marie Guehenno, the outgoing head of UN peacekeeping operations, made the remarks during a closed-door briefing on Tuesday’s ambush that left seven peacekeepers of the joint UN-African Union force (UNAMID) dead and 19 others wounded.

Guehenno said that the ambush was designed “to inflict casualties” and was carried out with “equipment usually not used by (rebel) militias.” Said a diplomat who attended the meeting.

Thursday, Sudan accused Darfur rebels of orchestrating the ambush at Um Hakibah in North Darfur State, although a day earlier UNAMID officials that suspected government-backed Janjaweed militia were behind the attack.

Guehenno also warned that UNAMID “will be extremely vulnerable in the next few weeks” and called on Security Council members to provide more equipment to the under-manned force, a diplomatic source told the Agence France Press on condition of anonymity.

(ST)