Darfur Ambush Kills 7 Peacekeepers, Wounds 22

UNITED NATIONS — United Nations officials say seven peacekeepers from a joint U.N.-African Union force have been killed and 22 wounded in an attack at Sudan's Darfur region.

Five Rwandan soldiers and two police officers, one from Ghana, the other from Uganda, were killed, Secretary-General Ban's office said today. At least seven of the wounded were in serious condition.

The attack came when a joint police and military patrol investigating the killing of civilians in North Darfur was ambushed by unidentified militia, Mr. Ban's office said.

The attackers, a group of about 200 riding horses and driving SUVs mounted with anti-aircraft and anti-tank weapons, exchanged gunfire for more than two hours with the peacekeeping force that included 61 Rwandan soldiers.