U.S. 'Appalled' by Darfur Attack, Says Security Worsening

The United States on Thursday denounced an attack on a U.N. patrol in Sudan, voicing concern that security in western Darfur was worsening and threatening the implementation of peace accords there.

"The United States is deeply concerned by the sharp deterioration in security in North Darfur and adjacent parts of Jebel Marra, Sudan," State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said in a statement.

The U.S. was also "appalled" by Tuesday's attack on a U.N. patrol in which four peacekeepers were killed and eight injured, she added, calling for an investigation into all assaults on U.N. forces in the region.

More than 70 civilians were also killed in Hashaba, north Darfur, between September 25 and 27 in fighting and aerial bombardments between rebels and the Sudanese government forces, she said.

Washington was calling "for an immediate and unconditional end to the aerial bombardment of civilian areas by the Sudanese Armed Forces," Nuland added, highlighting that they were a violation of international humanitarian law.

"These attacks mark a significant and alarming worsening in security in Darfur, which is having a serious impact on the implementation of the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur."

The U.N.-African Union Mission (UNAMID) -- the U.N.'s largest peacekeeping force -- has been in Darfur for more than four years with a mandate to protect civilians in the vast area the size of France.

Rebels from black African tribes rose up against the Arab-dominated Khartoum government in 2003. Clashes with government troops, banditry and inter-ethnic fighting continue, but the levels of violence have fallen compared to nearly a decade ago.

In July 2011, the Sudanese government and a Darfur rebel group, the Liberation and Justice Movement, signed a peace accord in the Qatari capital Doha.

But the main armed groups -- the Justice and Equality Movement and factions of the Sudan Liberation Army -- were absent and did not sign the agreement.

Nuland said "a recent tightening of restrictions on humanitarian actors in Darfur, including U.N. agencies, also raises doubts about the government of Sudan's willingness to implement the agreement."

"The government of Sudan should allow UNAMID and humanitarian actors full and unfettered access to all parts of Darfur in order to protect and assist the victims of the conflict, and to support implementation of the agreement," she added.