AU condemns killing of Darfur peacekeepers

ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - The African Union condemned anambush by Darfur militiamen that killed seven members of ajoint U.N.-AU mission, saying on Thursday it was a criminal actbut would not deter the organisations from their work.

The soldiers and police from the UNAMID force were ambushedby about 40 vehicles full of heavily armed militia during apatrol in North Darfur on Tuesday, UNAMID said. It was theworst direct attack on the force since it began work onDecember 31.

"This criminal attack ... will not affect the determinationand commitment of the AU and the U.N. in bringing about lastingpeace and alleviating the suffering of the civilian populationin Darfur," the African Union said in a statement.

"The AU appeals once again, to all the parties concerned toextend full cooperation to the AU-U.N. mediation efforts."

A UNAMID spokeswoman said 22 other members of the force hadbeen injured during the attack, which lasted two hours.

It was not immediately clear if the militias weregovernment allies. Sudan's army and Darfur's main rebel groups,including the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and the SudanLiberation Movement Unity faction, have denied any involvement.

At full strength, the UNAMID mission would be the world'slargest U.N.-funded peacekeeping operation with 26,000 soldiersand police, but it has less than 10,000 personnel on theground.

The fighting has triggered the world's biggest humanitarianoperation, helping more than 4 million people. Internationalexperts estimate some 200,000 people have died in Darfur.

(Writing by Wangui Kanina; Editing by Daniel Wallis andMary Gabriel)

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