PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
Three peacekeepers killed in north Darfur
Khartoum, Sudan (PANA) - Three peacekeepers, working with the United Nations African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), were shot dead Monday while six others were injured, three of them seriously, when attacked by unknown assailants, a statement by the UN mission indicated Tuesday.
The killings bring to 36 the number of peacekeepers lost in the area since 2007.
"At approximately 20:15 hours on 10 October, a UNAMID patrol team came under attack by armed assailants at the Zam Zam internally-displaced persons camp, some 10 kilometres south of Fashir in North Darfur," the statement disclosed.
"The three dead peacekeepers were two soldiers and a police advisor," the statement indicated, adding that one of the assailants was also killed."
"I condemn in the strongest terms this attack on our peacekeepers who have worked selflessly to bring security to the internally-displaced persons of Zam Zam camp where so many Darfuris have sought refuge," said Ibrahim Gambari, the Joint Special Representative (JSR) and head of UNAMID in Darfur.
He explained that the UNAMID patrol was a regular nightly patrol of unarmed police advisors and armed military escorts, arguing that their mission was to protect civilians, "For that they paid the ultimate sacrifice."
Gambari called upon the Sudanese authorities to mount a full investigation immediately and to find and bring to justice the perpetrators as soon as possible.
"An attack on international peacekeepers is a war crime and we will ensure that justice will be served. This deplorable incident will not deter UNAMID's strong commitment to its mission to protect the people of Darfur," Gambari warned.
He said: "I wish to extend to the families, friends, colleagues and fellow peacekeepers my deepest condolences and profound gratitude for the service of our fallen peacekeepers. I wish those injured a speedy recovery."
The mission has yet to reveal the nationalities of those killed or injured.
-0- PANA MO/VAO 11Oct2011
The killings bring to 36 the number of peacekeepers lost in the area since 2007.
"At approximately 20:15 hours on 10 October, a UNAMID patrol team came under attack by armed assailants at the Zam Zam internally-displaced persons camp, some 10 kilometres south of Fashir in North Darfur," the statement disclosed.
"The three dead peacekeepers were two soldiers and a police advisor," the statement indicated, adding that one of the assailants was also killed."
"I condemn in the strongest terms this attack on our peacekeepers who have worked selflessly to bring security to the internally-displaced persons of Zam Zam camp where so many Darfuris have sought refuge," said Ibrahim Gambari, the Joint Special Representative (JSR) and head of UNAMID in Darfur.
He explained that the UNAMID patrol was a regular nightly patrol of unarmed police advisors and armed military escorts, arguing that their mission was to protect civilians, "For that they paid the ultimate sacrifice."
Gambari called upon the Sudanese authorities to mount a full investigation immediately and to find and bring to justice the perpetrators as soon as possible.
"An attack on international peacekeepers is a war crime and we will ensure that justice will be served. This deplorable incident will not deter UNAMID's strong commitment to its mission to protect the people of Darfur," Gambari warned.
He said: "I wish to extend to the families, friends, colleagues and fellow peacekeepers my deepest condolences and profound gratitude for the service of our fallen peacekeepers. I wish those injured a speedy recovery."
The mission has yet to reveal the nationalities of those killed or injured.
-0- PANA MO/VAO 11Oct2011
