The arrest of two suspects in the death of a pair of Egyptian peacekeepers is just the first step in bringing the killers to justice, reports Doaa El-Bey Sudanese authorities on Monday arrested two men suspected of killing two Egyptian peacekeepers in an ambush in Darfur, Sudan. The two were part of the UN/African Union UNAMID peacekeeping forces stationed in the war-torn region. The incident left three other Egyptian members injured. Egyptian Consul-General in Khartoum Moataz Mustafa Kamel told Al-Ahram Weekly by phone that the Sudanese authorities were questioning the two suspects under the supervision of the head of the police forces and the minister of interior. Khartoum is now searching for the rest of the seven- member group responsible for the attack. Kamel said that preliminary reports indicated that the suspects did not belong to a known rebel movement in Darfur. He said Egypt would "fight for the rights of the victims" until their attackers were brought to justice. He added that the three soldiers wounded in the incident were in stable condition. Another report presented by Minister of Defence Hussein Tantawi to the cabinet Monday said the injured UNAMID members were recovering. The report contained all details concerning the incident. The Ministry of Defence is the party responsible for incidents related to the Armed Forces. The attack happened when a military convoy from UNAMID's Egyptian contingent of three vehicles and 20 personnel was ambushed near Katila village, 85 kilometres south of Eddal Fursan. The attackers indiscriminately opened fire without warning on the peacekeepers, then fled when the convoy returned fire. The attack left both Egypt and the UNAMID more determined than ever to carry out their mission in Darfur. After the incident, Egypt's cabinet issued a statement reiterating Cairo's continued commitment to supporting peace and stability in Sudan. UNAMID called upon the government of Sudan to identify and bring the perpetrators to justice and added that it remained undaunted and unwavering in its commitment to carrying out its mandate in the service of peace. The attack brings to 24 the number of UNAMID personnel killed in hostile action since the mission was established in January 2008. The previous mission consisted of only AU forces. On 4 April South African peacekeepers who had been held in Darfur were freed unharmed after 15 days in captivity. Their abductors said the kidnapping was to show the world that the security situation in Darfur did not allow for elections. The kidnapping came as Sudan was holding its first contested elections in more than two decades which led to the re-election of President Omar Al-Bashir. The attack was widely condemned. Egypt's Foreign Ministry denounced the attack and said in a statement that Egyptian officials were working with their Sudanese counterparts to find out who was responsible. The Sudanese Foreign Ministry has reportedly sent condolences to the families of the soldiers. Security Council members also condemned the attack "in the strongest terms" according to a statement read out on behalf of the 15-member panel by Ambassador Nawaf Salam of Lebanon which holds the rotating presidency this month. Salam said the council extended its condolences to the families of the peacekeepers and to the Egyptian government, and reiterated its full support for the work of the mission. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon called on the Sudanese government to launch an immediate investigation into the incident and to identify, apprehend and bring the perpetrators to justice. AU Chief Jean Ping expressed "shock and regret" at the death of the two Egyptians. The incident was seen as a sign of further deterioration in security in the region. Law and order collapsed after mostly non-Arab rebels in Darfur took up arms against Sudan's Arab-dominated central government in February 2003, accusing it of marginalising and neglecting the region and its population. According to the United Nations, 300,000 people have died and more than two million have fled their homes since confrontations started. The Sudan government puts the death toll at 10,000. Thousands of villagers from the birthplace of the two victims flocked to their funeral. Bitterness and loss was the prevalent mood but some women ululated in celebration of the peacekeepers who died for the sake of duty. A top official in Daqahliya where both victims were born is considering naming two streets after them.
