The African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) condemned on Saturday the killing of an Egyptian officer by unknown gunmen in the restive western Sudanese region of Darfur.

AMIS spokesman Nourraddin Mazeni termed the killing as "an evil criminal action against the soldiers of peace who come to serve the people in Darfur".

He disclosed that after the incident the AMIS had asked the local authorities to take all the necessary measures to arrest the criminals and bring them to the courts.

Well-informed sources told Xinhua that the Egyptian officer belonging to the African peacekeeping force in Darfur died from wounds earlier Saturday.

The Egyptian officer was attacked on Friday by two armed persons not far away from the AMIS headquarters in Fashir, the capital of North Darfur State.

The Egyptian joint the AU peacekeeping force in Darfur very recently. He was one of some 200 military experts, policemen and civilian personnel sent by the UN as the so-called Light Support Package for the AU force in Darfur.

The latest incident increased the number of the AU peacekeeping force killed in Darfur to 18 since it was deployed in the western Sudanese region in 2004.

In recent months, the 7800-strong African force have been repeatedly attacked by unknown militants, who at most cases robbed vehicles, equipment and properties without causing human casualties.

Source: Xinhua