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JEM denies shooting UNAMID helicopter |
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Tuesday, 12 August 2008 |
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JEM denied involvement in a shooting at a UNAMID helicopter in Darfur.
Haroon Abdul Hameed, spokesperson of the movement, told miraya FM that the movement has nothing to do with the incident; he further accused the Sudanese government of shooting the plane.
The government earlier said that JEM was behind the shooting of the helicopter, which was shot at in Algenaina in west Darfur, no injuries was reported.
The Spokesman of the United Nations/African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), Nouridin Mazni, said that the mission’s helicopter was shot after it took off from Al- Geneina Airport in the Western Darfur State. Speaking to Miraya FM, Mr. Mazni said that the helicopter later landed safely adding that there are no casualties.
He said that it is not yet known who was behind the shooting of the helicopter.
The US Special Envoy to Sudan, Richard Williamson, meanwhile expressed concerns over the slowness of the deployment of the UNAMID forces to Darfur.
Mr. Williamson who visited the Headquarters of the UNAMID in Al-Fasher town of Northern Darfur on Monday urged the mission’s leadership to do everything possible to “speed up the deployment.”
The Special Envoy conveyed his government’s continued support to UNAMID to ensure the mission’s effectiveness in its Area of Operation and the protection of civilians.
The UNAMID Deputy Joint Special Representative, Henry Anyidoho, meanwhile urged for the support of a peaceful mission in order to reach comprehensive peace in the region. Mr. Anyidoho added that UNAMID will extend its support to the Joint UN/African Union Special Envoy to Darfur Djibril Bassole.
However, the UNAMID Spokesperson Nourindin Mazni affirmed that an Ethiopian battalion will arrive to Darfur as part of the mission next Saturday.
Mr. Mazni told Miraya FM that most of the Ethiopian forces which comprise 390 soldiers are reporting to the engineering unit.
He added that an Egyptian battalion is also on its way to the region.
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