EL FASHER, Sudan — The Nigerian commander of African Union troops said he feared for the future of a new peacekeeping force, but assured President Carter and other statesmen today that the deaths of 10 comrades would not weaken his country’s commitment to Darfur.

General Martin Agwai told the group the proposed force of AU and U.N. troops still lacked equipment, and even by January would have less than a third of the troops promised.

“Our president called me and assured me he understood our plan and would continue to support us,” General Agwai said, drawing applause from the delegates visiting El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur province.

Over the weekend, rebels overran an African peacekeeping base in northern Darfur, killing 10 — the deadliest attack on the force since it arrived in the region three years ago. Nigerian forces suffered the greatest losses in the assault, which drew condemnation today from the U.N. Security Council.

“The council condemns this murderous attack and demands that no effort be spared so that the perpetrators be identified and brought to justice,” the council’s statement said, after a day of disagreement over whether to call the assault a terrorist act perpetrated by rebels, as South Africa, Russia and some other council members wanted.

Nigerian’s commitment is crucial because under the compromise reached between the United Nations and Khartoum’s government, the majority of the new 26,000-strong joint force must be predominantly African.

The delegation led by Mr. Carter and Desmond Tutu is trying to use their influence at a crucial time — with peace talks due to start in Libya and deployment of the hybrid force to begin later this month.

Along with the joint force’s chief, Rodolphe Adada, the Nigerian general said the mission still lacked crucial equipment.

Only one country, Jordan, has so far committed needed aircraft, General Agwai told the delegates.