UN Security Council condemns attacks on peacekeepers in Darfur
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The UN Security Council members on Friday "condemn in the strongest terms" the attacks on United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) peacekeepers in Darfur earlier Friday which killed two Egyptians and seriously injured three others.
"The members of the Security Council condemn in the strongest terms the attacks on UNAMID peacekeepers in Darfur on May 7, which resulted in the death of two Egyptian soldiers and left another three seriously wounded," said a statement read out to the press by Lebanese UN Ambassador Nawaf Salam, who holds the rotating presidency of the Security Council for May.
The Council members "express their condolences to the families of those killed in the attacks as well as to the government of Egypt," the statement said.
The statement encouraged the government of Sudan to "ensure that all the perpetrators are swiftly brought to justice."
"The members of the Security Council reiterated their full support for UNAMID and call on all parties in Darfur to cooperate fully with the mission," said the statement.
According to a UNAMID statement Friday, a military convoy from UNAMID's Egyptian contingent, with three vehicles and 20 people, was ambushed near Katila village, 85 kilometers south of Edd al Fursan, South Darfur on Friday morning by a group of unidentified armed men who indiscriminately opened fire, without warning, at the peacekeepers.
It noted that the attackers fled when the convoy returned fire, adding that the attack left two peacekeepers killed in action and three seriously wounded.
The injured soldiers were air-lifted to UNAMID's hospital in Nyala, South Darfur, and were in stable condition, the statement said.
In the statement, AU-UN Joint Special Representative in Sudan Ibrahim Gambari expressed outrage at this cowardly attack against UNAMID's peacekeepers, saying that the peacekeepers "are in Darfur to help restore peace and stability."
He added that the "UNAMID remains undaunted and unwavering in its commitment to carrying out its mandate in the service of peace. "
This attack brings to 24 the number of UNAMID personnel killed in hostile actions since the 26,000-strong mission was established in January 2008.
