Seven Unamid peacekeepers killed, 17 injured in South Darfur ambush

Seven Unamid peacekeepers have been killed and 17 “military and police personnel” injured in an ambush by “a large unidentified group”.An Unamid statement to Radio Dabanga on Saturday confirms that “the incident, which began at 9am, occurred approximately 25 kilometres west of the Mission’s Khor Abeche team site”.“The Unamid team came under heavy fire from a large unidentified group,” the statement says. “Following an extended firefight, the patrol was extracted by Unamid reinforcements that arrived from the Mission’s Khor Abeche and Manawashi team sites.“Seven UNAMID military peacekeepers were killed and 17 military and police personnel, among them two female Police Advisers, were wounded.”“The Mission condemns in the strongest possible terms those responsible for this heinous attack on our peacekeepers,” said Unamid Joint Special Representative, Mohamed Ibn Chambas.“The perpetrators should be on notice that they will be pursued for this crime and gross violation of international humanitarian law.”Radio Dabanga will uptate this item as further details become available.File photo by Albert González Farran/UNAMIDRelated:UN peacekeeping head laments ‘deterioration in security situation’ in Darfur (5 July 2013)UNAMID Peacekeeper killed in attack on Muhajeriya Team Site, East Darfur (19 April 2013)Update: One UN peacekeeper killed, two injured in shelling of Kadugli, South Kordofan (16 June 2013)