UN Secretary- General Ban Ki-moon has called on the Sudanese government to prevent any recurrence and fulfill its obligations concerning the deployment of the force, known as UNAMID
Posted by African Press International on January 10, 2008
Washington DC- (USA) Elements of the Sudanese army have been accused of attacking a supply convoy of the new joint United Nations-African Union peacekeeping force in Sudans strife-torn Darfur region on Tuesday night, and a civilian Sudanese driver suffered seven gunshot wounds, APA learns from UN sources.
Condemning the attack in the strongest possible terms, the UN Secretary- General Ban Ki-moon called on the Sudanese government to prevent any recurrence and fulfill its obligations concerning the deployment of the force, known as UNAMID, which has as a result been put on high alert on Wednesday.
The convoy, carrying rations for UNAMID personnel in West Darfur, was said to have been attacked in an area that has seen violent clashes between the government and rebels.
For the joint African UnionUnited 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 Tuesday 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 immediately after the attack, 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.
UNAMID formally took over from an African Union mission just last week in a bid to bring peace to Darfur.
But, with only 9,000 armed personnel, it is critically under strength. However, with a mandated total of some 26,000 troops and police it would be the UNs largest peacekeeping operation, and Mr. Ban has repeatedly appealed to member states to speed up delivery of vital units and equipment, including helicopters.
Published by Korir, API/APN africanpress@chello.no source.apa
