Unknown armed men attack Darfur peacekeepers

June 30, 2009 (ELFASHER) – Unidentified gunmen shot some peacekeeping police officers in West Darfur state wounding one in the leg, the UNAMID said on Tuesday.

The peacekeepers who belong to the Nigerian Formed Police Unit came under attack on Monday about 03:15 local time “by unknown gunmen in Ardamata area, near UNAMID camp in the West Darfur capital of El Geneina.”

The commander of Nigerian unit was shot in the leg. But UNAMID said he was in a stable condition and he is receiving treatment in the mission hospital.

Since the take over from the African Union force in January 2008, the hybrid force lost sixteen peacekeepers.

Despite the violence and deliberated attacks, the mission continues to conduct confidence building, escort, and night patrols in the region. The UNAMID police, on the other hand, patrol in and around the villages and IPDs camps in Darfur.

(ST)