20081008SUD

*South Sudan president cancels crackdown on tight trousers
JUBA, Sudan, Oct 8 (Reuters Life!) - South Sudan's president shut down a police investigation on Wednesday that saw scores of young women arrested for "disturbing the peace" by wearing tight trousers.
The women were arrested over the past week by police who said they suspected them of belonging to youth gangs known for drinking, fighting and public nudity.
But government officials, including the south's gender minister, said they were angry at the way the women had been targeted and treated after arrest.
President Salva Kiir had ordered a "serious investigation" into the police crackdown, said a government minister.
Kiir also ordered the immediate release of any woman arrested under the operation in the south's capital Juba, and said there were questions over its legality, Southern Minister for Presidential Affairs Luka Biong added in a statement.
Police arrested more than 35 women on Sunday night alone, angering bystanders by the way they pushed them into two trucks.
The deputy police commissioner of Juba County, Raiman Lege, said they were disturbing the peace by wearing trousers that were too tight. The group was freed on Monday without charge after appearing in court.
Sudan's semi-autonomous south generally has a much more relaxed approach to women's dress than the country's Muslim north, with which it fought a two-decade war that was ended by a 2005 peace deal. (Reporting by Skye Wheeler; editing by Philippa Fletcher)

*New UN peacekeeping chief, on first official visit, confers in South Sudan
UN News 8 Oct - The top United Nations peacekeeping official met today with leading officials of the regional government of Southern Sudan as part of his week-long familiarization tour of Africa's largest country where the world body currently fields two peacekeeping missions.
Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Alain Le Roy, accompanied by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Special Representative in Sudan Ashraf Qazi, held talks with Salva Kiir, President of the Government of Southern Sudan, scene of a devastating 21-year-long civil war before a peace accord was signed in 2005.
"As you know we have 18 operations worldwide, so we have many challenges. However, I started with the Sudan because I think there are many things at stake here," Mr. Le Roy told reporters, explaining why he made the country his first destination since his appointment to his post in August. "As I said, much has been achieved, but there is still a need for the UN to continue to play its role."
Although the comprehensive peace agreement (CPA) ending the north-south civil war, which killed at least 2 million people and displaced 4.5 million others, was signed nearly four years ago, violent clashes still occur. Fighting took place most recently in the town of Abyei, where 98 people were killed and over 50,000 others uprooted in May.
Mr. Le Roy visited Abyei yesterday, meeting with members of the newly formed Joint Integrated Unit and Joint Integrated Police Unit set up to ensure security and policing in the town after May's violence.
While the CPA remains on track, much needs to be done to implement the agreement within the time remaining and the parties must redouble their efforts to accomplish the outstanding benchmarks, he said.
He stressed that the main challenge is to help to keep the peace in Sudan as a whole, something the people clearly want in a country that is also riven by a fierce war in its western region of Darfur. The UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) currently fields nearly 10,000 uniformed personnel entrusted with monitoring compliance with the CPA, assisting in a demobilization and reintegration programme, and helping the return home of those displaced.
A separate hybrid UN-African Union peacekeeping mission for Darfur, known as UNAMID, was deployed at the start of this year and is slated to become the largest UN peacekeeping operation with some 26,000 personnel at full strength. Currently it has some 10,000 troops and police officers on the ground and still lacks essential equipment, including helicopters.
A tripartite committee on UNAMID's deployment comprising the UN, the African Union and the Sudanese Government held its first meeting yesterday, with all sides pledging every possible effort to speed up deployment.
"The challenges are very high and so we do request the support of GoS (Government of Sudan), without which we cannot achieve this objective," UN Under-Secretary-General for Field Support Susana Malcorra told reporters afterwards.he challenges are very high and so we do request the support of GoS (Government of Sudan), without which we cannot achieve this objective
Some 300,000 people are estimated to have been killed, either through direct combat or as a result of disease, malnutrition or reduced life expectancy, and more than 2.7 million others have been uprooted from their homes in the five-year Darfur conflict that pits rebels against Government forces and allied Janjaweed militiamen.
Mr. Le Roy is to visit UNAMID's headquarters in El Fasher, capital of North Darfur state, and stops are also scheduled in South Darfur's capital, Nyala, and El Geneina, capital of West Darfur.

*Kenya dismisses tanks 'evidence'
BBC 8 Oct
A Kenyan minister has denied BBC reports that the tanks seized by Somali pirates were bound for South Sudan.
According to the cargo's manifest, obtained by the BBC, the contract included the phrase "GOSS", widely used to mean the Government Of South Sudan.
But Foreign Minister Moses Wetangula said it meant General Ordinance Supplies and Security and that this was a code for the department of defence.
He also said force should be used to rescue the weapons from the pirates.
He said Kenya would send warships to join the US and Russian ships surrounding the Ukrainian vessel, MV Faina, which is still moored off the Somali coast.
Last week, the Somali government said the ship's owners were involved in direct negotiations with the pirates, who are demanding a $20m (£11m) ransom.
Kenya has always insisted that the military hardware was destined for its army but refused to comment on the BBC evidence on Tuesday.
Officials in Ukraine have also denied that GOSS stands for South Sudan but military and diplomatic sources insist that it does.
The BBC's Karen Allen in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, says that although the import of military hardware to Sudan is not illegal, if the weapons were being passed on, it would put Kenya in a tight spot diplomatically as Kenya helped broker an end to the civil war between South Sudan and the government in Khartoum in 2005.
But Francis Nazario, head of South Sudan's mission in Brussels, said he had seen the manifest and it did not prove anything.
"What I know is that we have nothing at all to do with the content of this ship, and the ship was not heading for South Sudan," he told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme.
"I think if there was anything like that we would not hide it because constitutionally we have the right to do so, to bring arms from anywhere."
Military balance
On Tuesday, a Kenyan court granted bail to Andrew Mwangura, a spokesman for the Kenyan chapter of the Seafarers' Assistance Programme, who had been arrested after he said the tanks were bound for South Sudan.
Mr Mwangura was charged with making alarming statements and illegal possession of marijuana.
However, he has not yet raised the 200,000 shillings, ($2,700) and so he is still in custody.
Last week, Western military experts told the BBC that the tanks on board the MV Faina were going to Sudan and that the shipment indicated an arms race between northern and southern Sudan had begun.
They are reported to both be building up their forces ahead of a referendum on independence for the South in 2011.
The military experts, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said a previous delivery of tanks had taken place last November. 

*Ukraine Denies Pirate Ship's Arms Bound For S Sudan
KIEV (AFP 8 Oct)--Ukraine joined Kenya Wednesday to deny a report that a shipment of 33 tanks and other arms seized last month by Somali pirates was destined for Sudan.
The BBC Tuesday carried a picture of the purported freight manifest showing the initials GOSS, an acronym the U.K. broadcaster suggested stood for the Government of South Sudan, where it said the weapons were heading.
"The cited acronym...is that of a department of the Kenyan Ministry of Defense, the General Ordnance Supply and Security," said a statement issued by Ukrainian state-owned arms exporter Ukrspetsexport.
Kenya's foreign minister also said the BBC had misinterpreted the acronym.
"I have personally seen the bill of loading that is posted on the BBC Web site and it is purely speculative," minister Moses Wetangula told reporters after a meeting with Somali Foreign Minister Ali Jama Jangeli.
"That is the correct document but it was misinterpreted. The initials shown in that cargo manifest do not in any way show that the military cargo was destined for Southern Sudan," he said, also saying that the correct acronym was General Ordnance Supply and Security.
The identity of the final recipient of the shipment has been the subject of controversy, with several parties and experts claiming it was headed for South Sudan, and with Kenya insisting the cargo was its own.
On Sept. 25, pirates seized the MV Faina, a Ukrainian ship carrying 33 Soviet- type battle tanks, anti-air systems, rocket launchers and ammunition.
Kenya said Wednesday it would send its navy join other foreign vessels surrounding the ship as pirates try to secure a ransom for its release.
Despite growing calls, Kenya hasn't yet produced an end-user certificate proving the shipment is indeed intended to its ministry of defense for a hardware upgrade. 

*Thousands of Congo refugees flee LRA attacks-U.N.
JUBA, Sudan, Oct 8 (Reuters) - Thousands of refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have fled into south Sudan to escape attacks by the rebel Lord's Resistance Army, the United Nations said on Tuesday.
"The team reported that an estimated 150 Congolese are still crossing daily from the DRC," the U.N. refugee agency (UNHCR) said in a statement, adding it had heard reports of attacks on villages with huts set ablaze and children abducted.
The Ugandan rebel LRA agreed to a peace deal with the Ugandan government earlier this year but the group's leader Joseph Kony, wanted for war crimes by prosecutors at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, failed to appear at a signing ceremony in April.
A period of uncertainty followed, with fresh LRA attacks followed by new promises by Kony to sign the agreement.
The U.N. agency said at least 5,000 refugees had crossed from northern DRC and most were sheltering in two villages in the south's Western Equatoria State.
The LRA has frequently been blamed for attacks, killings and child abductions in Western Equatoria in the past five years.
UNHCR representative Geoff Wordly said his agency was planning to distribute food, blankets, plastic sheeting and other survival materials.
The LRA has led one of Africa's longest-running guerrilla wars against the government in Kampala. It is notorious for abducting children to use as child soldiers and sex slaves.
The LRA has been driven out of northern Uganda but continues to carry out raids in Congo, Sudan and Central African Republic from bases in Congo's Garamba National Park. (Reporting by Skye Wheeler; Editing by Janet Lawrence)

*SMC 8 Oct
Williamson and Tiraki Discuss Darfur Crisis
Khartoum (smc)
Libya secretary for foreign liaison and international cooperation Abdel Salam Al Tirraki met yesterday in Tripoli with US president Bush special envoy for Sudan Rideshared Williamson. The American diplomat and Tiraki have discussed the latest development situation in Darfur and bilateral relations between Sudan and Chad. Williamson has likely praised Libyan president Mouamar al Gadafi initiatives for restoring clam and stability in the region of Darfur and normalizing of relations between Sudan and Chad
Tripartite Mechanism between Sudan UN & AU Meets in Khartoum
Khartoum (smc)
The tripartite mechanism between the government, UN and AU held its first meeting yesterday at ministry of foreign affairs in Khartoum. The meeting has likely discussed improve capacity building of hybrid troops in Darfur to execute its role effectively in the region. Ministry of foreign affairs spokesman Ali Al Sadig told reporters following the meeting that participants have discussed the technical aspects and other matters related to deployment of hybrid troops operation in Darfur. The spokesman describes the meeting as friendly and fruitful. He said a communiqué expected be release today highlighting details of what agreed upon at the tripartite meeting
American Tortured Detainees to obtain Confess/Mustafa
Khartoum (smc)
The Sudanese citizen Mustafa Ibrahim Mustafa detained by US administration in Guwatanamo Bay arrived early morning yesterday in Khartoum after spending seven years in prison. Head of international aide civil organization Hassan Al Mujamar told reporters yesterday in press conference held at the organization premises in Khartoum that Mustafa kept in prison for seven years without facing a single charge. However, Al Mujamar urges Arab League, Islamic conference organization an AU to interfere in pressurizing the American administration to release all detainees and close down the prison. For his part Mustafa Complained that the prison administration tortures prisoners until they confessed under pain that the involved in war against the American. He said they faced them stand nicked with hands tied back as part of different type of tortures. He adds that the American guards, at prison torn the holy Koran and throws it into the garbage basket. Mustafa urges authorities to interfere force the Americans release the three Sudanese who are still under detention in Guwatanamo
A Nigerian officer Killed in Darfur
Khartoum (smc)
UNAMID expresses regret for the murder of a Nigerian officer working for UNAMID in Darfur. The Nigerian officer killed yesterday in fire exchange between a UNAMID patrolling unit and armed group that targets peacekeepers. UNAMID spokesman Nur Al Dein Al Mazini told reporters that international community has to avail effective equipment for peacekeepers to maintain their mission successfully in the region of Darfur. He describes those who target peacekeepers in Darfur as executing a cheap mission contradicts the principle of fighting in favor of a legitimate case
Information Technology Organization to Launch Worldwide campaign to Counter Ocampo's Allegations
Khartoum (smc)
Sudanese organization for information technology headed by minister of state at ministry of science and technology Essay Bushra affirms it is planning to organize an international campaign to deliver a message countering to ICC prosecutor general Luis Ocampo''s allegations against president Omar Hassna Al-Bshir. Head of the organization said their plan aims at reaching worldwide public opinion to show that Ocampo''s allegations are political ones rather that legal charge
Salva Kiir Inaugurates Juba Bridge
Juba (smc) SUNA
First Vice-President of the Republic and President of the Government of Southern Sudan Salva Kiir Mayardit inaugurated Monday Juba Bridge linking Juba, Torit and Bur after its rehabilitation. Salva Kiir, addressing the inauguration ceremony, pointed out that roads and bridges are considered one of the priorities of his government, indicating to the strategic importance of the opening of Juba Bridge 
Dr. Al-Jaz to partake in IMF and World Bank meetings
Khartoum (smc) SUNA
Minister of Finance and National Economy Dr. Awad Al-Jaz on October 9 will leave for Washington to partake in the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, which started there Sunday. The meeting will discuss regional and international economic and financial issues, Sudan is expected to discuss benefiting from the HIPC initiative. State Minister at the Ministry of Finance Dr. Luwal Deng left to Washington heading advanced delegation drawing the Governor of the Central Bank of Sudan and other experts
President Al-Bashir Receives Sadik Al-Mahdi
Khartoum (smc) SUNA
President of the Republic Omer Al-Bashir has affirmed commitment of the Government of National Unity to implementation of the Initiative of the People of Sudan and supporting the Arab initiative for boosting the peace process in Darfur. The President of the Republic, receiving Chairman of National Ummah Party Sadik Al-Mahdi at the Guest House Tuesday, expressed appreciation over the role being played by the National Ummah Party to support the government''s efforts to boost stability in the country. Al-Mahdi, in a press statement to SUNA, pointed out that the regular meeting with the President of the Republic and the leaderships of the National Congress comes in the context of consultations on the coming stage of the Initiative of the People of Sudan, which should be carried out without exclusion of anyone. He said consultations were made on these issues and on preparations for the coming visions pertinent to the Arab initiative in the context of uniting national visions for solving the problems of the country
Kiir and Taha agree on speeding up of Joint Steps of People of Sudan Initiative for Darfur Peace
Juba (smc) SUNA
First Vice President of the Republic and President of the Government of Southern Sudan Salva Kiir Mayardit and Vice President Ali Osman Mohamed Taha have underscored importance of expediting of the joint steps of the People of Sudan Initiative for restoring peace in Darfur and exerting all efforts to make the Qatari Initiative a success and realizing comprehensive and durable peace in the country. This came at the conclusion of the talks they held at the Secretariat General of the Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) in Juba Monday where deliberations were made on the efforts of the Government of National Unity (GoNU) for implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and completion of Darfur and eastern Sudan peace. Agreement was reached on acceleration of forwarding nominees for the Council of Political Parties'' Affairs and the National Elections Commission. Taha briefed Kiir on the participation of Sudan delegation in the meetings of the United Nations General Assembly in New York recently and the diplomatic and political efforts the delegation exerted with the international and regional organizations to explain Sudan''s position towards the allegations of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court. GoSS Vice President Dr. Riek Machar said in press statement, following the meeting, that Taha''s visit to Juba reviewed progress of CPA implementation and a number of important files between the two partners. The two sides agreed upon resumption of the meetings of the Joint Political and Executive Committee co-chaired by Taha and Machar on October 13 to complete presentation and discussion of the specialized subcommittees'' reports. Machar pointed out that that the two sides also agreed on importance of reactivation of Joint Darfur Committee between the two partners, noting that the two partners urged the committee to commence its works to pave the way for the Qatari initiative
Fourth International Book Exhibition to Open Session Mid October
Khartoum (smc) SUNA
State Minister at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports Dr. Amin Hassan Omer has discussed with the State Minister at the Ministry of Information and Communications, Dr. Kamal Obied, arrangements for the inauguration of the Fourth International Book Exhibition in Sudan at Buri Fair Ground during October 15-27 under the auspices of Vice President Ali Osman Mohamed Taha. It is worth mentioning that the exhibition is to be accompanied by a number of programmes of cultural activities with participation of artists, poets, writers and thinkers from various countries of the world
Dr. Nafie back home concluding visit to France
Khartoum (smc) SUNA
Assistant of the President of the Republic Dr. Nafie Ali Nafie returned home Tuesday evening concluding a visit to France during which he held talks with a number of French officials. Dr. Nafie said in a press statement that the visit was successful and tackled a number of issues of mutual concern, pointing out that support to the Qatari initiative and the joint mediation, which was led by UN-AU Joint chief mediator Ambassador Bassole, was affirmed, indicating that agreement was reached on making the initiative a success and bringing together the two initiatives. Dr. Nafie pointed that the meetings with the French officials discussed a number of issues besides the issue of deployment of the UNAMID, where there was no difference as all know that Sudan has extended all that are required for facilitating the operation, as the meetings also dealt with the importance of contributions by donors in supporting UNAMID to complete its troops and receive the logistic support. Dr. Nafie added that the talks also tackled the Sudanese-Chadian relations, pointing out that they explained the efforts exerted by Sudan for normalizing relations with Chad, welcoming any French role to help the African initiative (Dakar initiative). Dr. Nafie reiterated Sudan''s position rejecting dealing with the International Criminal Court (ICC), pointing out that they clearly explained Sudan''s firm position towards the ICC that has no jurisdiction over Sudan as it is not a member of the court and that Sudan will not deal with it and will not hand over any Sudanese national. Dr. Nafie said the allegations of the ICC have negative effects on the peace process in Sudan
Justice and Equality Movement loots 150 heads of cattle from Rezaigat
Khartoum (smc)SUNA
The Justice and Equality Movement has looted 150 heads of cattle from Rezaigat tribe and 40 heads of camel from the nomads in eastern Jebel Moon area. Member of the Council of the States Abdalla Khatir Hasabal-Rasoul told SUNA that some armed movements turned into bandits of armed robbery in the framework of seeking resources for funding their military operations
Technical Committee for Demarcation of Boundaries Starts Description of General Line between North & South
The technical committee for demarcation of boundaries between north and south starts description of boundaries based on borderline of first of January 1956. Head of the committee Abdallah Al Asdig Ali told (smc) that his committee would submit a preliminary report on this matter by next November and its final report planned be submit by April next year. He explains that the committee works aggressively to finish its mission on the schedule. However, he denies existence of any obstacles facing the committee''s mission.
Broaden Meeting to Take Place in Khartoum to Prepare for Muslim Convention in the South
Islamic corporation for Muslims in southern Sudan would hold broaden meeting next week in Khartoum aims at making preparation of the corporation convention scheduled for next November in Juab town.
Member of steering committee for southern Sudan Muslims affairs Mango Ajak told (smc) that the committee starts receiving Muslims facilities in the south such as Zakat and endowment confiscated sometimes ago by the government of southern Sudan (GOSS). He pointed out that elections would take place in the south to form Muslims corporation. He said elections would run in the ten states of southern region without isolation of any Muslim on the background of political affiliation.
Ajak told (smc) that eight committees formed to supervise election process.
It notes that FVP Salva Kir has visited Muslim corporation premises in Juba during Id Al Fiter and promised maintains Muslims rights in the south
Egyptian Economist Affirms Sudan Safety Haven for Arab Investments
PHD holder in economy and public fiancé (the lecturer at university of Mansura, Egypt) Ride Abdel Salam Ibrahim affirms the importance of setting up a new Arab strategy focuses on directing Arab investments to Africa in general particularly in Sudan on background of the global financial crisis. He said he believes Sudan is safety haven for Arab capital after the current world financial crisis. Dr Ibrahim gave this statement yesterday on the celebration launched in his honor by Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa BEDA for he has won the bank''s prize of the beset research on opportunities and challenges of Arab investments in Africa

*Ukraine may offer helicopters for Darfur - UN's Ban
By Louis Charbonneau
UNITED NATIONS, Oct 7 (Reuters) - Ukraine might offer badly needed helicopters to an international peacekeeping mission in Sudan's war-ravaged Darfur region, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Tuesday.
"President Viktor Yushchenko and I explored the possibility of deploying Ukrainian military helicopters and personnel to Darfur," Ban told reporters at a news conference.
"We have had subsequent discussions with the Ukrainian defense minister in New York last week," he said. "These efforts are continuing."
The joint U.N.-African Union peacekeeping force is responsible for keeping the peace in a region roughly the size of France, but, with fewer than 10,000 soldiers and police, it is far short of its promised strength of 26,000 personnel.
Western diplomats, U.N. officials and human rights groups say the force remains so small due to obstruction from Sudan's government in Khartoum, U.N. bureaucracy and a shortage of helicopters and other transportation equipment.
U.N. officials have repeatedly urged countries with appropriate helicopters to offer them to the peacekeeping mission but the appeals have gone unanswered.
It was not clear whether Khartoum would accept the Ukrainian help. Although there are some non-Africans in UNAMID, the Sudanese government has resisted the deployment of peacekeepers from outside the continent.
At least 200,000 people have been killed and 2.5 million driven from their homes in five years of fighting in Darfur, international experts say. Khartoum puts the death toll at 10,000.
Ban was also asked if it would help bring peace if the U.N. Security Council suspended an International Criminal Court prosecutor's request to indict Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir for genocide and war crimes in Darfur.
Ban said he was aware of concerns expressed by the African Union, Arab League and Organization of Islamic Conference states -- who have all said indicting Bashir could torpedo the fragile Darfur peace process.
He urged the Khartoum to "cooperate fully" to ensure full and swift deployment of UNAMID, and said it should also take "very credible judicial measures" to meet the requirements of the Hague-based ICC, "whose decision and judgments should be respected and protected."
Sudan has hinted that it could expel UNAMID forces if the ICC judges indict Bashir. Khartoum has said it would never cooperate with the ICC and dismissed as politically motivated both the investigation of Bashir and earlier indictments of two others for alleged Darfur war crimes.
The ICC judges are not expected to make a decision before next month. Four Security Council members have indicated they could support a suspension of the ICC moves against Bashir.
(Additional reporting by Claudia Parsons; Editing by Patricia Zengerle)

*Ban Outlines Timetable Towards Full Deployment of Peacekeeping Force
UN News Service (New York)
7 October 2008
The "severely stretched" United Nations-African Union peacekeeping force in Darfur, which has struggled to find enough countries willing to supply troops and equipment, should now reach two-thirds of its full deployment by the end of this year, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today.
Some 85 per cent of the 26,000 troops and police officers expected when the peacekeeping mission, known as UNAMID, is at full capacity should then be in place by next March, "despite the many obstacles," Mr. Ban told a press conference at UN Headquarters in New York.
Only about 10,000 uniformed personnel are currently deployed in Darfur, an impoverished, arid region in western Sudan that has been the centre of fierce fighting and widespread humanitarian suffering since 2003.
Senior UN officials have repeatedly called on countries to provide the necessary blue helmets and equipment, particularly helicopters, so that UNAMID can carry out its mandate.
Mr. Ban said today that the first Egyptian and Ethiopian battalions will be deployed by the end of this month and he has spoken with the leaders of Thailand and Ukraine about contributing troops and equipment.
"Yesterday I spoke with the Prime Minister of Thailand [Somchai Wongsawat] with a view toward securing the deployment of a Thai battalion in Darfur," he said. "As you know, the Government of Sudan has approved the deployment of both Thai and Nepalese military units. It was a very positive conversation and I am assured that the Thai Cabinet will move ahead as soon as possible."
Turning to Ukraine, the Secretary-General said he explored the possibility of deploying military helicopters and personnel during his meeting with President Viktor Yushchenko on the sidelines of the General Assembly's high-level debate last month.
"We have had subsequent discussions with the Ukrainian Defence Minister [Yuriy Yekhanurov] in New York. These efforts are continuing. I expect the Government in Kiev to act soon."
Mr. Ban warned that the situation in Darfur, where rebels are fighting Government forces and allied Janjaweed militiamen, continues to deteriorate.
"We are seeing increasing attacks on UN and international [aid] staff. The UNAMID mission is severely stretched."
Yesterday a Nigerian soldier serving with UNAMID was killed following an ambush of a routine mission patrol in South Darfur state by 40 to 60 unknown attackers wearing civilian clothes. He was the ninth UN soldier to die in Darfur in the past three months.
The blue helmet, who was taking part in a nine-vehicle, 50-strong patrol between Nyala and Khor Abeche when the ambush occurred near Menawashei, died during his medical evacuation to Nyala.
The mission reported that UNAMID forces later captured one of the attackers and handed him to Sudanese Government police in Nyala, which is the South Darfur state capital.
UNAMID said it would investigate the cause and circumstances of the attack, adding it was stepping up its patrols in the area near Menawashei.
Mr. Ban strongly condemned the attack in a statement issued through his spokesperson, offering his condolences to the Nigerian Government and to the friends and family of the deceased.
"Both the Government of Sudan, as well as the concerned armed movements operating in the area, bear responsibility for the provision of security and for refraining from attacks against civilians as well as UN peacekeeper," the statement noted.
Mr. Ban stressed that "all parties have a responsibility to respect the mandate and integrity" of UNAMID, which has been in place in Darfur since January this year, taking over from the under-resourced African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS).
An estimated 300,000 people have been killed in Darfur over the past five years as a result of direct combat, disease, malnutrition or reduced life expectancy, while another 2.7 million people have been displaced from their homes.
Today, in Khartoum, the first meeting of the tripartite committee - comprising representatives of the UN, AU and Sudanese Government - was held to review the deployment of UNAMID and outline practical solutions to logistical and other challenges which the mission faces.
The three parties agreed "to take every possible step to speed up the deployment," according to a press release issued by UNAMID, and also backed a set of measures to achieve that accelerated roll-out.
Susana Malcorra, Under-Secretary-General for Field Support, later warned that "the challenges are very high and so we do request the support of the Government of Sudan, without which we cannot achieve this objective." 

*Secretary-General strongly condemns armed attack on convoy of African Union-United Nations troops in Darfur
UNSG 7 Oct
SG/SM/11852
AFR/1754
This statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:
The Secretary-General strongly condemns yesterday's attack by a group of about 40 to 60 armed men on a convoy of UNAMID (African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur) troops on a route assessment patrol from Nyala to Khor Abeche. One Nigerian soldier was killed during the course of the ambush.
Both the Government of Sudan, as well as the concerned armed movements operating in the area, bear responsibility for the provision of security and for refraining from attacks against civilians as well as United Nations peacekeepers.
The Secretary-General offers his condolences to the Government of Nigeria and to the friends and family of the deceased, and stresses that all parties have a responsibility to respect the mandate and integrity of the joint African Union-United Nations peacekeeping operation in Darfur.
For information media • not an official record