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Darfur attack kills peacekeepers | Darfur attack kills peacekeepers |
(about 1 hour later) | |
An attack on an African Union army base in the Sudanese region of Darfur has killed at least 12 peacekeepers. | |
Sources in the region told the BBC that 2,000 rebels had overrun the base. Fifty AU soldiers are still missing. | |
The casualties were the most serious losses suffered by the AU mission since it arrived in 2003, a spokesman said. | The casualties were the most serious losses suffered by the AU mission since it arrived in 2003, a spokesman said. |
The attackers made off with all the weapons and vehicles they were able to take, and burned the vehicles that remained, the sources told the BBC. | |
They said the rebels were under pressure from government forces in the area. | |
The sources did not say which of the dozen rebel groups that operate in Darfur carried out the overnight attack on the base in Haskanita town. | |
The AU, for its part, did not make clear whether it thought government troops or rebels were responsible. | |
class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/5316306.stm">Darfur quick guide | |
It confirmed the base had come under an intensive attack, but said the exact number of casualties on both sides was still unclear. | |
About 7,000 African Union troops are deployed in Darfur on a limited mandate. | About 7,000 African Union troops are deployed in Darfur on a limited mandate. |
The UN Security Council has approved a 26,000-strong peacekeeping force to expand the current AU force, which has been struggling to protect civilians. | The UN Security Council has approved a 26,000-strong peacekeeping force to expand the current AU force, which has been struggling to protect civilians. |
Mission to Sudan | |
The attack came as South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu was expected in Sudan, in the latest initiative to bring peace to Darfur. | |
The archbishop is leading a delegation that includes former UN special envoy to Iraq, Lakhdar Brahimi, US ex-President Jimmy Carter, and Graca Machel, a children's rights advocate and the wife of Nelson Mandela. | |
The group of retired elder statesmen came together at Mr Mandela's invitation to find ways to tackle some of the world's toughest problems, such as HIV-Aids, poverty and conflict. | |
The BBC's Amber Henshaw in Khartoum says it is no coincidence that Darfur is the focus of the group's first mission. | The BBC's Amber Henshaw in Khartoum says it is no coincidence that Darfur is the focus of the group's first mission. |
At least 200,000 people have died and some 2m have been forced from their homes during the four-year conflict. | At least 200,000 people have died and some 2m have been forced from their homes during the four-year conflict. |
The delegation will meet President Omar al-Bashir and others in Khartoum before travelling to Juba, capital of southern Sudan. | The delegation will meet President Omar al-Bashir and others in Khartoum before travelling to Juba, capital of southern Sudan. |
They will then travel to Darfur where they will meet community leaders and displaced people living in camps. | They will then travel to Darfur where they will meet community leaders and displaced people living in camps. |