EL FASHER, 22 July 2008 - On the afternoon of 21 July 2008, a UN security officer was beaten up by military personnel of the Government of Sudan and then forced into a military vehicle before being taken to a Military base.

The security officer had gone to the market area in El Fasher to investigate a road accident involving a UN staff member, a military vehicle and a taxi. He had barely started taking pictures of the scene when a small group of military personnel assaulted him. The intervention of the UNAMID civilian staff did not help matters.

The officer is presently undergoing treatment for injuries at a UNAMID hospital in El Fasher.

Although this could be said to be an isolated incident, UNAMID condemns in the strongest terms such attacks on its staff members, who are here to help bring peace to the people of Darfur.