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Gunmen attack Nigerian pilgrims in Darfur
Gunmen have attacked and robbed a group of 300 Nigerian pilgrims as the security situation in Sudan�s troubled Darfur region continues to worsen, the Akhbar Al Youm daily reported Friday.
News of the incident coincided with the opening in Abuja, of a second round of African Union-sponsored peace negotiations between the government and rebels in Darfur.
The paper quoted pilgrims as saying they were robbed by up to 40 hooded gunmen who ambushed a convoy Wednesday night at Tawela, northeast of El-Feshir, the capital of North Darfur state.
The pilgrims, according to AFP report, were traveling to the Saudi city of Mecca to perform the Ummra, or lesser pilgrimage, which normally coincides with the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Akhbar Al Youm said the gunmen also abducted 10 of 17 Sudanese accompanying the Nigerians.
North Darfur Governor, Osman Yusuf Kibir, accused rebels of the Sudan Liberation Movement and the Justice and Equality Movement of being responsible, saying the incident was another violation of their April 8 ceasefire agreement with the government.
Kibir said �the rebels showed no respect for the pilgrims, or for the holy month of Ramadan, nor for Nigeria which is now hosting the peace talks.�
The pilgrims have reportedly filed a complaint with the AU Ceasefire Commission, the body monitoring truce violations.
Akhbar Al Youm said the Nigerian ambassador in Khartoum telephoned Kibir over the incident, which he denounced as an �inhumane attack during the holy month and at the onset of the negotiations in the Nigerian capital.�
Sudanese government officials have routinely accused the rebels of harassing civilians in the region, lootings and abductions, charges the rebels vehemently deny.
They blame the attacks on groups such as the pro-government Arab Janjaweed militias, responsible for many atrocities against farmers in the region.
Saturday PUNCH, October 23, 2004.
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