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SECRETARY
GENERAL CONDEMNS ASSAULT ON UN SUPPLY CONVOY IN SUDAN BY FORCE AFFILIATED
WITH THE SUDANESE ARMY:
08/01/08
(MaximsNews Network)
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UNITED
NATIONS - / MaximsNews Network / - 08
January 2007 -- A convoy in Sudan carrying supplies for the recently
created joint United Nations-African Union peacekeeping troops was attacked on
January 7th by a faction of the Sudanese army. The incident, in which a civilian
Sudanese driver was shot seven times, took place in Darfur.
Condemning
the attack “in the strongest possible terms,” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
called on the Sudanese Government to prevent any recurrence and fulfil its
obligations concerning the deployment of the force, known as UNAMID, which was
put on high alert today. The convoy, carrying rations for UNAMID personnel in
West Darfur, was attacked in an area that has seen violent clashes between the
Government and rebels.
“For
the joint African Union–United Nations peacekeeping operation to be able to
perform its mandated functions, the Government of Sudan has to provide
unequivocal guarantees that there will be no recurrence of such activities by
its forces,” Mr. Ban said in a statement issued by his spokesperson.
“In
this connection, the United Nations is lodging a protest with the Government of
Sudan. This incident underscores the importance of the Government reaffirming
its commitment to the deployment of UNAMID and the implementation of Security
Council resolution 1769,” he added of the resolution setting up the force.
In a
statement issued by UNAMID, the hybrid force said it did not return fire, and no
UNAMID casualties were incurred during the attack on the re-supply mission
between Um Baru, Tine and Kulbus in West Darfur, an area where its air
operations have been restricted due to the security concerns.
It added
that the Sudanese civilian driver was in critical condition and had already been
evacuated to UNAMID headquarters in El Fasher. A diesel truck and a UNAMID armed
personnel carrier were damaged.
“UNAMID
is currently maintaining a high state of alert,” the force said.
“Investigation of the incident is underway and the UNAMID leadership is in
direct consultations and discussion with Sudanese authorities in Khartoum and El
Fasher over the matter.”
The
force formally took over from an African Union mission just last week in a bid
to bring peace to Darfur, a region the size of France where more than 200,000
people have been killed and 2.2 million others forced to flee their homes since
fighting began in 2003 between Government forces and rebel groups.
But,
with only 9,000 armed personnel, it is critically under strength. With a
mandated total of some 26,000 troops and police it would be the UN’s largest
peacekeeping operation, and Mr. Ban has repeatedly appealed to Member States to
speed up delivery of vital units and equipment, including helicopters.
Labels: United
Nations, U.N.,
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