Darfur Rebels Kill UN Peacekeepers and Declare Their Intention to Terrorize Khartoum

WASHINGTON, Oct. 20, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The October 10th attack on UN personnel near Zam Zam camp in Darfur was confirmed to have been carried out by the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM), Minni Minawi's faction. The assault killed three peacekeepers and injured six, three of whom were left in critical condition. It is the latest of the countless killings and attacks perpetrated by this group and its likes against the UN peacekeepers and the innocent civilians since the crises in Darfur began in 2003.

The Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) also proclaimed to CNN that it will "take the war to the seat of the throne" in Khartoum. They're fond of accusing the government of not being a "genuine peace partner" yet attack the UN and civilians in broad daylight. They ridicule and denounce peace agreements signed with parties seeking genuine peace, yet will not propose their own peaceful means to resolve the problems. It's not difficult to recall the pleadings of and the concessions made by the government to merely get them to the table.

Their intention has never been peace but "regime change," and their latest move to form a coalition that includes SPLM-N is yet another proof. One thing that they have sufficiently demonstrated to be capable of is the indiscriminate killing of civilians and creating a humanitarian catastrophe. They've been doing it in Darfur and their partners are now following suite in South Kordufan and Blue Nile. It is time that members of the international community use whatever leverage they have over these terrorists to help stop the killing of civilians and UN personnel in Darfur, South Kordufan and Blue Nile. The government of Sudan is and has been trying its level best to protect innocents, but it will take the international pressure to get these bandits to cease their brutal campaign.

CONTACT:  Embassy of Sudan Press and Information Office, phone: +1-202-338-8565, or fax: +1-202-667-2406

SOURCE Embassy of the Republic of the Sudan