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Story Highlights• 10 people also wounded in the attack by militiamen, an AU spokesman says• Helicopter crew, 8 AU peackeepers held hostage, AU says • AU base was being attacked, according to its spokesman Adjust font size:
    KHARTOUM, Sudan (AP) -- Some 22 civilians were killed by militiamen who ambushed their refugee convoy in western Darfur, and African Union peacekeepers investigating the attack were taken hostage by rioters, the AU said Sunday. "We can confirm that 22 people were killed and 10 wounded" in Saturday's attack between the towns El Geneina and Sirba in West Darfur, said AU spokesman Noureddine Mezni. He said rioters were holding captive a helicopter crew and eight AU peacekeepers who were in Sirba to investigate the incident. The AU base in El Geneina was also being attacked, Mezni said. An international aid worker in El Geneina said as many as 30 people were killed Saturday when pro-government janjaweed militiamen ambushed a commercial convoy of refugees. He said the janjaweed -- an Arab tribal paramilitary group -- executed those who survived the initial ambush, then set fire to the bodies. The aid worker spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter. Sudanese police transported the bodies of the victims, all ethnic African refugees from the Erenga tribe, to a refugee camp on the outskirts of El Geneina, and rioting erupted around the town, he said. A U.N. official in Darfur said rioting and sporadic shooting took place in the town on Sunday. He said he did not know who was attacking the AU base, but that he did not believe it was the janjaweed. The airport was closed and all U.N. staff and aid workers were grounded, the official said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the media. Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. |
 | Scandal-hit Jefferson wins Louisiana runoffU.S. Rep. William Jefferson easily defeated his fellow Democratic opponent in a runoff election Saturday, despite an ongoing federal bribery investigation. |
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