October 1, 2007	Monday	Ramazan 18, 1428

KHARTOUM, Sept 30: At least 10 African Union troops have been killed and 50 reported missing from their base in Sudan’s western Darfur region in the bloodiest attack on the peacekeeping force, the AU said on Sunday.

“At least 10 soldiers were killed, seven wounded and dozens are missing,” African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) spokesman Noureddine Mezni told newswmen of the attack on Saturday night on Haskanita base in southern Darfur.

An AU statement said 50 personnel were missing after a “sustained attack by a large and organised group of heavily armed men” who broke into the camp with 30 vehicles, forcing AU troops to fight “a defensive battle.” “This is the worst single incident perpetrated against AMIS since the mission began in July 2004 and the first time that an AMIS (base) has been deliberately attacked in this fashion,” it said. The AU declined to speculate on who carried out the attack or elaborate on the nationalities of those killed.

AU-UN joint envoy Rodolphe Adada said he was “profoundly shocked and appalled by the outrageous and deliberate attack” which came just weeks ahead of peace talks in Tripoli in a bid to end what Washington has called genocide in Darfur.

“It is staggering to imagine what could possibly have been the intentions of those who perpetrated this wanton and unprovoked act,” Adada said.—AFP