PARIS, Oct 14 (KUNA) -- French authorities condemned on Monday an attack against the UN-African Union peace force (UNAMIS) in Darfur in Western Sudan and also condemned the separate murder of a UN-AU soldier in the region.
The Foreign Ministry said that France "was calling on the Sudanese government to rapidly investigate these two attacks and bring those responsible to justice." A statement here said that three Senegalese soldiers serving with the international mission in Sudan were killed on October 13 near Al Gueneina after they came under attack.
In a separate incident, a Zambian military observer was murdered in Al-Fasher two days earlier.
"The deterioration of the security situation in Darfur these past months is worrying," the French statement said, adding a declaration of support for the UN-AU operation.
Paris also called on the parties fighting in Darfur to adopt an agreement brokered several years ago in Doha and which brought a partial end to fighting but only in some areas as all groups did not adhere to the accord.
Over 300,000 people have perished in Darfur in seven years of war and upheaval and over 2.5 million are thought to have been made refugees because of the conflict.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague has issued arrest warrants for President Omar Al-Beshir and several key lieutenants for crimes against humanity and war crimes.
The ICC has also been looking into the behaviour of some rebel commanders in Darfur. (End) jk.tg KUNA 141538 Oct 13NNNN