Two police officers killed in South Darfur

October 17, 2009 (KHARTOUM) – Unidentified gunmen killed two police officers while they guarding a UN World Food Programme guesthouse in south Darfur state last Thursday.

The assailants described by the police as “criminals” target armed police officers to get their arms, a UN World Food Programme official said, in a statement to Reuters today.

“The police told us there are criminals active in the area, targeting small groups of armed police, trying to get their guns,” said WFP security officer Elisca Lagerweij. “We assume this was not an attack on the United Nations or its staff.”

He also said that two international staff and two WFP guards who were inside the compound were not injured.

Further a third police officer was killed on Friday when the Sudanese security forces followed the attackers in the troubled state. While the police shot dead two of the attackers in an exchange of fire.

Despite the relative calm in the restive region, humanitarian workers and peacekeepers are still targeted by armed men who attack them regularly. The attacks on police officers however remain uncommon.

The hybrid peacekeeping mission in Darfur said today that three peacekeepers were wounded after an attack by unknown armed men near Zalinglei on their convoy.

The peacekeepers were escorting a UNAMID garbage truck when it came under attack by unknown gunmen, who made off with the four-wheel-drive.

(ST)