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| Sudan denies Darfur attack on UN | Sudan denies Darfur attack on UN |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Sudan has denied that its forces were involved in an attack on peacekeepers in the troubled Darfur region, following strong protests from the UN. | Sudan has denied that its forces were involved in an attack on peacekeepers in the troubled Darfur region, following strong protests from the UN. |
| Ambassador Abdalmahmoud Abdalhaleem Mohamad said the attack happened in an area where rebels were active. | Ambassador Abdalmahmoud Abdalhaleem Mohamad said the attack happened in an area where rebels were active. |
| The US and the UK have again accused Sudan of blocking the UN mission. | The US and the UK have again accused Sudan of blocking the UN mission. |
| Sweden and Norway have dropped plans to send 400 troops to the region to do critical engineering work after Sudan refused to accept non-African troops. | Sweden and Norway have dropped plans to send 400 troops to the region to do critical engineering work after Sudan refused to accept non-African troops. |
| 'Rebel attack' | 'Rebel attack' |
| UN peacekeeping chief Jean Marie Guehenno has told the UN Security Council that a local Sudanese army commander on the ground had contacted the UN and claimed responsibility for the attack on a supply convoy. | |
| The rebels and those who are always accusing Sudan are the beneficiaries of such attacks Abdalmahmoud MohamadSudanese ambassador to the UN Africa's troubled Darfur mission | The rebels and those who are always accusing Sudan are the beneficiaries of such attacks Abdalmahmoud MohamadSudanese ambassador to the UN Africa's troubled Darfur mission |
| But Mr Mohamad denied the reports. | But Mr Mohamad denied the reports. |
| "We have no relationship at all with that attack," he said. "It happened in an area infested with rebel activities. | "We have no relationship at all with that attack," he said. "It happened in an area infested with rebel activities. |
| "Who would benefit from this attack? The rebels and those who are always accusing Sudan are the beneficiaries of such attacks." | "Who would benefit from this attack? The rebels and those who are always accusing Sudan are the beneficiaries of such attacks." |
| A civilian Sudanese driver is in a critical condition after being shot seven times in the attack, the joint force Unamid said. | A civilian Sudanese driver is in a critical condition after being shot seven times in the attack, the joint force Unamid said. |
| It said its peacekeepers had not fired back and there were no UN casualties. | It said its peacekeepers had not fired back and there were no UN casualties. |
| Some reports suggested the attackers may have been government soldiers who mistook the convoy for rebels. | Some reports suggested the attackers may have been government soldiers who mistook the convoy for rebels. |
| The convoy had been carrying fuel and food to a joint United Nations-African Union outpost in the west of Darfur. | The convoy had been carrying fuel and food to a joint United Nations-African Union outpost in the west of Darfur. |
| 'No guarantees' | 'No guarantees' |
| UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon condemned the strike "in the strongest terms". | UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon condemned the strike "in the strongest terms". |
| The mission itself will not have the personnel or assets in place to implement its mandate for many months, even in the best-case scenario Jean Marie GuehennoUN peacekeeping chief | The mission itself will not have the personnel or assets in place to implement its mandate for many months, even in the best-case scenario Jean Marie GuehennoUN peacekeeping chief |
| The attack is the first time the new peacekeeping operation has come under fire since the UN took over last week. | The attack is the first time the new peacekeeping operation has come under fire since the UN took over last week. |
| Unamid is due to become a 26,000-strong force but for the moment has just 9,000 troops. | Unamid is due to become a 26,000-strong force but for the moment has just 9,000 troops. |
| In heated exchanges on Wednesday, the US and UK ambassadors accused Khartoum of foot-dragging, but Mr Mohamad said his government was "co-operating on all issues". | In heated exchanges on Wednesday, the US and UK ambassadors accused Khartoum of foot-dragging, but Mr Mohamad said his government was "co-operating on all issues". |
| Speaking on Wednesday, Mr Guehenno said the force would have to make the best of a difficult situation. | Speaking on Wednesday, Mr Guehenno said the force would have to make the best of a difficult situation. |
| "Five months after the adoption of Resolution 1769 [establishing the force], we do not yet have guarantee or agreements from the government on basic practical issues," he said. | "Five months after the adoption of Resolution 1769 [establishing the force], we do not yet have guarantee or agreements from the government on basic practical issues," he said. |
| "The mission itself will not have the personnel or assets in place to implement its mandate for many months, even in the best-case scenario." | "The mission itself will not have the personnel or assets in place to implement its mandate for many months, even in the best-case scenario." |
| Tensions have been escalating in the area over the last few weeks. | Tensions have been escalating in the area over the last few weeks. |
| There have been violent clashes between the Sudanese government and rebel groups. | There have been violent clashes between the Sudanese government and rebel groups. |
| Neighbouring Chad has been accused by Khartoum of bombing villages in the area, and each country accuses the other of sheltering rebel movements dedicated to overthrowing their respective regimes. | Neighbouring Chad has been accused by Khartoum of bombing villages in the area, and each country accuses the other of sheltering rebel movements dedicated to overthrowing their respective regimes. |
| At least 200,000 people have been killed and two million forced from their homes in the five-year conflict. | At least 200,000 people have been killed and two million forced from their homes in the five-year conflict. |