Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General on the deadly attack on UNAMID peacekeepers in South Darfur

NEW YORK, July 15, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The Secretary-General was outraged to learn of a deadly attack on peacekeepers in Darfur which occurred this morning, 13 July, when unidentified armed assailants ambushed a convoy composed of troops and police of the African Union – United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) in Khor Abeche, South Darfur. Seven Tanzanian peacekeepers were killed and 17 others are injured. Among the injured are four UNAMID police officers, including two female officers, and 13 troops.

The Secretary-General expresses his deepest sympathies to the families of the fallen peacekeepers, the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania and to all UNAMID personnel.

The Secretary-General condemns this heinous attack on UNAMID, the third in three weeks, and expects that the Government of Sudan will take swift action to bring the perpetrators to justice.