Darfur Rebels Kill at Least 10 Peacekeepers in Raid

Rebels attack African Union base
By Caroline Zimmerman,  Newser Staff
Posted Sep 30, 2007 12:06 PM CDT
Darfur Rebels Kill at Least 10 Peacekeepers in Raid
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres, center, inspects an honor guard during a visit to the African Union Sector Head Quarters at the West Darfur town of Al-Geneina, Sudan Wednesday, April 25, 2007. The UNHCR chief was welcomed with traditional songs by Chadian refugees living...   (Associated Press)

An overnight rebel attack on the African Union's base in Darfur has left at least 10 soldiers dead and 50 others missing in the bloodiest incident the peacekeeping force has seen since its 2003 inception. Some 30 rebel vehicles stormed and pillaged the base, but rebel sources told the BBC that breakaway factions were responsible.

The 7,000-strong African Union is deployed in Darfur to protect civilians, and the UN has approved an additional 26,000 troops to expand the precarious peacekeeping efforts there. The attack, a ceasefire violation, came as the AU and the UN were to meet, in advance of peace talks between the Sudanese government and the rebels. (More Crisis in Darfur stories.)

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