DARFUR: UN SECURITY OFFICER ASSAULTED BY GOVERNMENT PERSONNEL

DARFUR: UN SECURITY OFFICER ASSAULTED BY GOVERNMENT PERSONNEL New York, Jul 22 2008 2:00PM A security officer working with the joint African Union-United Nations peacekeeping mission in Darfur (UNAMID) has been assaulted by Sudanese Government military personnel, the mission reported today.

The security officer was forced into a vehicle yesterday and taken to a military intelligence office after he had gone to the market in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state, to investigate a road accident. After his release he was taken to a UNAMID hospital for treatment.

Meanwhile, UNAMID reports that its police advisers conducted their first helicopter patrols over five camps housing internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Darfur. The three-hour test flight on Sunday was part of an initiative to use helicopters to reach selected camps as an alternative to long-distance road patrols which have proven to be dangerous for the unarmed police advisers.

In a related development, the Joint AU-UN Special Representative Rodolphe Adada met today with the Governor of North Darfur, Mohammed Osman Yousif Kibir. The Governor reiterated the commitment of the Sudanese Government to provide security and protection to UNAMID and its full support for the full deployment of the mission.

UNAMID also reported that a contingent of 250 Egyptian engineers is expected to arrive in El Fasher tomorrow.
2008-07-22 00:00:00.000

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