Sudan Arrests Suspects in Attack on Rwandan Peacekeepers in Darfur

Sudanese authorities say they have arrested a number of gunmen suspected of killing three Rwandan peacekeepers in western Sudan's Darfur region.

The governor of North Darfur state, Osman Kebir says the suspects involved in Friday's shooting have been brought to the state capital, El Fasher. He says they will be presented before a court "to receive punishment for their heinous act," as he put it.

The suspects are accused of killing three Rwandan peacekeepers who were in a convoy escorting a water tanker in the northern Darfur town of Saraf Omra. The Rwandans were serving in Darfur as part of a joint U.N.-African Union mission, known as UNAMID.

The North Darfur governor says it appears bandits are targeting UNAMID convoys to try to steal their vehicles.

Armed robberies and kidnappings have increased in Darfur in recent months as UNAMID troops try to stabilize the area, which has been torn apart by almost seven years of civil war.

UNAMID condemned Friday's attack as "cowardly" and called for the perpetrators to be brought to justice.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed condolences to the families of the fallen peacekeepers and said he appreciates the commitment of UNAMID personnel to the search for peace in Darfur.

Friday's shooting was the first of two deadly attacks on UNAMID troops in Darfur. On Saturday, gunmen killed two Rwandan peacekeepers who were distributing water in Shangil Tobaya, also in North Darfur.

Some information for this report was provided by Reuters.