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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 10 peacekeepers. | |
Thirty vehicles overran the base, and 50 AU soldiers were missing and seven seriously injured. Vehicles and property were looted or vandalised. | |
Sources told the BBC the raiders were rebels, but it was not clear which group carried out the attack. | |
The casualties were the most serious suffered by the AU mission since it arrived in 2003, an AU statement said. | |
AU-UN Joint Special Representative Rodolphe Adada said he was profoundly shocked and appalled by the "outrageous and deliberate" attack. | |
It was not clear which of the dozen rebel groups that operate in Darfur carried out Saturday evening's attack, on the base in Haskanita town. | |
class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7020596.stm">Dim prospects for peace class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/5316306.stm">Darfur quick guide | |
The AU statement described the attackers as "a large and organised group of heavily armed men", without saying whether they were rebels or government troops. | |
"It is staggering to imagine what could possibly have been the intentions of those who perpetrated this wanton and unprovoked act," Mr Adada said. | |
"Not only was it a flagrant violation of the ceasefire but an unconscionable crime that breaks every convention and norm of international peacekeeping." | |
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 | 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 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 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 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. |