Darfur gunmen ambush peacekeeper, food aid convoy: UN

Khartoum (AFP) - Gunmen have ambushed a convoy from the World Food Programme and UN-AU peacekeepers in Darfur, wounding a driver before being fought off, the peacekeepers said.

Around 30 World Food Programme and United Nations African Union Mission in Darfur vehicles were travelling from Kutum in North Darfur to the state capital El Fasher Tuesday when the gunmen opened fire on them.

"UNAMID peacekeepers responded to the attack and, in the ensuing exchange of fire, the driver of one of the trucks sustained non-life threatening injuries," the mission said.

"The assailants fled the scene and none of the peacekeepers was hurt; although two UNAMID trucks remain unaccounted for."

It was unclear whether the assailants stole the vehicles, UNAMID said, adding that it was investigating.

The attackers hit as the convoy was some 36 kilometres (22 miles) from Kutum.

North Darfur state has been the scene of renewed fighting since late December as Khartoum's forces have pressed an offensive against rebels.

The western region has been mired in conflict since 2003, when mostly black African rebels launched an insurgency against the Arab-dominated government in Khartoum, complaining of their marginalisation.

Some 300,000 people have been killed and more than two million displaced, the UN says, although Khartoum estimates the toll at around 10,000.

President Omar al-Bashir is wanted by the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes in the region.