U.N./AU peacekeepers ambushed in Darfur

By Andrew Heavens

KHARTOUM (Reuters) - Armed men opened fire on a U.N./African Union supply convoy in Sudan's Darfur region, the first attack on the newly formed joint peacekeeping mission, officials said on Tuesday.

A diplomatic source working in the region told Reuters Sudanese Army soldiers had fired at the UNAMID convoy late Monday, apparently confusing the peacekeepers for rebels.

But the UNAMID spokesman Noureddine Mezni said they were still investigating the incident and could not confirm the identity of the attackers.

No one was immediately available for comment from Sudan's armed forces.

One civilian Sudanese driver was in a critical condition after being shot seven times, once in the shoulder, UNAMID said in a statement.

"The convoy came under fire from the Government of Sudan forces," said the diplomatic source in Darfur.

"It is not clear how it happened. The convoy was travelling after 10 p.m. in the dark. They could have mistaken them for rebels. There have been a lot of things going on in that area recently."

UNAMID said the convoy was taking food and fuel to a UNAMID outpost in the town of Tine close to the border of western Darfur state and Chad.