By: Wasil Ali

September 30, 2007 (WASHINGTON) — The US condemned the attack on the African Union base in Darfur today that left 10 soldiers dead and 50 unaccounted for.

Ahmed Hussein Adam

"We are infuriated by this attack. They need to stop and all parties need to respect the ceasefire” a state department official told Sudan Tribune on condition of anonymity.

It is not clear who carried out the attack but sources say they are a faction of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) wanting a seat in the upcoming peace talks in Tripoli.

But JEM official told Sudan Tribune they had no presence in the area since about a week ago and denied that it was carried out by a splinter faction of their movement.

“These are militias close to the Sudanese government part of the plan to scare off the peacekeeping forces that are to be deployed to Darfur” said the spokesperson of the rebel Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), Ahmed Hussein Adam.

Adam said his movement condemns the attack because “these forces are coming to help the people of Darfur and it is against the morals of the people there to hurt those who came to help them”

“In September 2005 we saved the lives of the AU troops in the city of Faira in North Darfur because we appreciate the work they do” he added.

The JEM spokesperson called for an international investigation into the attack and extended condolences to the African Union troops and their families.

(ST)