Darfur rebels reject accusation of killing UNAMID peacekeepers
October 13, 2011 (KHARTOUM) — Darfur rebel Sudan Liberation Movement led by Minni Minawi (SLM-MM) today denied for the second time any link with the killing of three peacekeepers and claimed that Monday’s attack was done by a pro-government militia leader.
Unidentified gunmen killed three peacekeepers and wounded five others while they were patrolling during the night of 10 October, in Zam Zam camp, outside El-Fasher capital of North Darfur state.
Minnawi group immediately distanced itself from the attack. However the state governor Osman Kibir accused the SLM-Minni Minnawi of carrying out the attack saying six vehicles infiltrated the camp from the east of Jebel Marra and west of Tabet area twenty kilometers south of El-Fasher. He further said the assailant force was led by a rebel commander called Adam Mahmoud.
Responding to this accusation the rebel group put out a statement on Thursday saying this commander is known as one of a local militia working for the state governor. The SLM-MM said is known for kidnapped a medical doctor member of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in 2010.
The group went further to argue that this commander attended different events, enumerated in the statement, organized by the governor.
The rebels further said Zam Zam camp is surrounded by earthen berms and excavations that make difficult to accede inside the camp without entering through the main gate which is guarded by the Sudanese security officers
On Thursday the US Administration condemned the on the members of the hybrid peacekeeping operation in Darfur. “We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of two (Rwandese) peacekeepers and one (Senegalese) police advisor,” stated the State Department.
“This brazen attack on UNAMID demonstrates the continuing insecurity that exists across Darfur, and reinforces the Government of Sudan’s responsibility to protect the Darfuri people,” further said State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland.
The Sudanese government said one gunman was killed during the clashes.
Monday’s attack brought the number of peacekeepers killed in Darfur to 33 soldiers since the deployment of the joint African Union United Nations operation in Darfur in January 2008.
(ST)