Seven Tanzanian peacekeepers were killed during an ambush Saturday in Sudan’s Darfur region, the African Union-UN Mission said, the worst-ever losses in the five-year history of the operation.
A rebel group in Sudan's Darfur region accused government-linked militia on Sunday of carrying out the ambush which killed seven Tanzanian peacekeepers, saying that “we don't have any doubt that the act was done by government militia, because militia are deployed in Khor Abeche area."
Abdullah Moursal, Spokesman for the Sudan Liberation Army's Minni Minnawi faction added that “this area is completely under government control."
Seven Tanzanian peacekeepers were killed during an ambush late Saturday in Darfur, the African Union-UN Mission said, the worst-ever losses in the five-year history of the operation.
The attack near the peacekeepers' base at Manawashi, north of the South Darfur state capital Nyala, adds to deteriorating security in Sudan's far-west region.
"Seven peacekeepers were killed and 17 were injured," AFP quoted UNAMID's acting spokesman Christopher Cycmanick as saying. A later UN statement identified them as Tanzanians.
The ambush occurred about 25 kilometres (16 miles) west of another UNAMID base at Khor Abeche, Cycmanick added.
"The UNAMID team came under heavy fire from a large unidentified group. Following an extended firefight, the patrol was extracted by UNAMID reinforcements", a statement said.
It added that the attack began at 9:00 am (0600 GMT) and the wounded included two female police advisers. Such advisers are typically unarmed.
UN leader Ban Ki-moon denounced the killings.
"The secretary general was outraged to learn of a deadly attack on peacekeepers in Darfur which occurred this morning," said UN spokesman Martin Nesirky.
Ban sent "deepest sympathies" to the families of the dead and the Tanzanian government.
"The secretary general condemns this heinous attack on UNAMID, the third in three weeks, and expects that the government of Sudan will take swift action to bring the perpetrators to justice."
UNAMID chief Mohamed Ibn Chambas also condemned "this heinous attack".
