Cablegate: Darfur: Convoy Ambush and Helicopter Incident Near Sirba

VZCZCXRO1433
PP RUEHMA RUEHROV
DE RUEHKH #2826 3450910
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 110910Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5534
INFO RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/CJTF HOA

UNCLAS KHARTOUM 002826

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV MOPS KPKO PHUM PREF AU UN SU
SUBJECT: Darfur: Convoy Ambush and Helicopter Incident near Sirba

1. (U) On December 9 at approximately 1500, armed men ambushed a
commercial truck near Sirba, 45 kilometers from El Geneina, capital
of West Darfur State. UNDSS estimates cite 22 civilians killed, and
10 wounded by gunmen on horseback armed with RPGs and assault
rifles.

2. (SBU) According to UNDSS and AMIS contacts, at 4:40 p.m., the
Sector Commander sent an AMIS helicopter with three crew, an EU
Military observer (MILOB), five protection force soldiers, a medic,
and an interpreter to the site to investigate and medevac
casualties. The helicopter landed at 5:00 p.m.; an angry mob
promptly surrounded it, demanding to know why the AU had not
protected them and why medevacing casualties took so long. They
also demanded that an investigation start immediately. The
protesters took the Thuraya satellite phones and weapons of the
passengers and crew, and prevented the departure of the helicopter.

3. (SBU) The EU MILOB said the mob forced him and the AU
representatives to the ambush site to investigate and photograph the
evidence. They then returned to the police headquarters, where the
Mil Obs addressed representatives of the protestors, calling for
calm. The Sirba police took the passengers and crew to their
headquarters for protection.

4. (SBU) At approximately 12:00 p.m. on December 10, a
stone-throwing mob attacked the AMIS camp in El Geneina. Assailants
fired at least one RPG-7 round into the camp, although it did not
explode. PA&E staff took shelter in their safehaven. The U.S.
MILOB in El Geneina reports that the Sector Commander was "roughed
up" by protestors, and that his protection force shot three people,
killing two. Police surrounded the camp in an effort to restore
order.

5. (U) AMIS Force Commander Maj. General Luke Aprezi appealed to the
Sudanese Government to intervene immediately to facilitate the
release of the personnel and aircraft. At 5:30 p.m. on December 10
a Sudanese Armed Forces team arrived, secured the aircraft via MI-24
helicopters and ground troops; they proceeded to the police station
to release the detained personnel. PA&E staff report that the
helicopter departed and arrived safely in El Geneina at 6:10 p.m.

HUME

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