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SA peacekeeper killed in Darfur

Gunmen killed a South African peacekeeper with the United Nations-led mission in Sudan's Darfur region and seriously wounded a female soldier in the second deadly ambush against the under-equipped force in weeks.

Gunmen killed a South African peacekeeper with the United Nations-led mission in Sudan's Darfur region and seriously wounded a female soldier in the second deadly ambush against the under-equipped force in weeks.

Wednesday's shooting brings to 11 the number of peacekeepers for the African Union-United Nations (Unamid) force to have died since the mission launched operations on December 31, spokesman Noureddine Mezni said.

Attackers opened fire on the two South African soldiers about a kilometre from a military base for the mission in northern Darfur.

Previously, a Nigerian sergeant was killed on October 7, when up to 60 gunmen ambushed a patrol in south Darfur.

The UN assumed command of peacekeeping in west Sudan's Darfur after the even smaller African Union mission also failed to provide basic security in the lawless region.

Seven peacekeepers died and 22 were wounded on July 8, the deadliest single ambush against Unamid. - Sapa-AFP

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