10 troops killed and 50 missing in Darfur

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 yesterday.

“At least 10 soldiers were killed, seven wounded and dozens are missing,” said African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) spokesman Noureddine Mezni.

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”.