10 AU peacekeepers killed

2007-10-01 07:26

Khartoum - Ten African Union peacekeepers have been killed and 40 are missing after their base in Sudan's Darfur region was overrun by gunmen, less than a month before peace talks are due to take place in Libya.

AU Mission in Sudan (AMIS) spokesperson Noureddine Mezni said: "Ten soldiers were killed, eight wounded of whom six have been evacuated to Khartoum and 40 are still missing."

On Sunday, the AU described a "sustained attack by a large and organised group of heavily armed men" who broke into the camp with 30 vehicles, forcing AU troops to fight "a defensive battle".

It said: "This is the worst single incident perpetrated against AMIS since the mission began in July 2004 and the first time that an AMIS base has been deliberately attacked in this fashion."

17 peacekeepers kidnapped

The AU declined to speculate on who carried out the attack or elaborate on the nationalities of those killed. The missing included 36 AU soldiers, three military observers and a police officer.

Seventeen other peacekeepers who were kidnapped in the raid were later discovered to the south of the base, said Mezni.

United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon condemned the killings and called on Darfur's warring sides to recommit to a settlement, citing peace talks slated for Libya on October 27 and preparations for a joint deployment of AU-UN troops.

He said: "The secretary-general condemns in the strongest possible terms the recent attack on AU peacekeepers in Haskanita, South Darfur and calls for the perpetrators to be held fully accountable for this outrageous act."

Ban urged all parties "to recommit as a matter of the highest priority to a peaceful resolution to the conflict".

AU-UN joint envoy Rodolphe Adada said he was "appalled by the outrageous and deliberate attack".

5 Senegalese troops killed

AU security chief Said Djinnit said the perpetrators must be punished. He said: "We believe strongly that the group involved should bear the full responsibility of this heinous attack."

The under-equipped African force of about 7 000 troops from 26 countries patrolling Darfur, a region the size of France, was due to begin being replaced later this year by the hybrid 26 000-strong AU-UN force.

Five Senegalese AU peacekeepers were killed in an attack in April.

The new commander of the hybrid force, General Martin Luther Agwai, said: "Such irresponsible attacks constitute a serious violation to the ceasefire agreement.

"Rebel groups, who indulge in such random violence and bloodshed, undermine their own credibility on any negotiation table."

Agwai also said it was regrettable that the attack happened ahead of peace talks due in Tripoli later this month in an attempt to broaden a Darfur peace agreement signed by only one rebel faction in May last year.

- AFP