Peacekeeper killed in Darfur raid

The AU has thousands of troops stationed in Darfur

An African Union peacekeeper in Sudan's troubled Darfur region has died and 10 others were injured in an attack by unknown gunmen.

A Sudan army spokesman said the force was attacked either by Chad-backed rebels or official Chadian forces.

Chad's government denied responsibility and one rebel group in Darfur said Sudanese forces staged the attack.

Relations between Sudan and Chad are at a low ebb, with each blaming the other for rebel attacks within their borders.

The African Union currently has about 6,000 peacekeepers stationed in Darfur.

On Wednesday leaders from central Africa gathered at a summit in the Chadian capital, Ndjamena, to discuss the escalating tension in Darfur.

In a statement, the African Union (AU) said the group of 30 Senegalese peacekeepers were attacked in Girgira village in the Kulbus area of western Darfur after delivering a truck to another location.

AU Commission Chairman Alpha Omar Konare said he was "deeply saddened" by the attack.

'Disinformation'

The Sudanese military was quick to blame Chad for the raid.

Separately on Saturday, Sudanese official media reported that Chadian planes flew into Sudanese airspace, committing "acts of violation and aggression".

Chad's Communication Minister Hourmadji Moussa Doumgor told Reuters that his country does not operate patrols within Darfur.

"This is disinformation," he added.

Tensions are high between Sudan and Chad, which has lobbied to have this month's AU meeting moved from the Sudanese capital, Khartoum.

Violent clashes broke out in December close to the border town of Adre between Chadian forces and rebels accused by Chad of links to Khartoum.

Senegalese peacekeepers were also attacked in Darfur in November.

Some two million people have fled their homes in more than three years of internal conflict in Darfur.