Sudan Denied U.N. Request to Evacuate Darfur Peacekeeper

Sudan denied a UN request for the emergency evacuation of a wounded Ethiopian peacekeeper who later died of his injuries in Darfur, the UN chief said Monday.

Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said he "deeply regrets" that Khartoum turned down the request on Sunday and offered condolences to the peacekeeper's family.

Ban said in a statement that he was deeply concerned about the rise in attacks on peacekeepers serving in the joint United Nations-African Union UNAMID mission in Darfur and the "limited cooperation" provided by Sudan.

He cited two attacks on peacekeepers in the town of Kass in South Darfur over the weekend in which six troops were wounded.

The Ethiopian peacekeeper was injured in Mujkar in West Darfur but no details were given on the circumstances of his death.

Tensions have been rising between Sudan and the United Nations over the peace mission deployed in Darfur since 2007.

The United Nations has announced plans to reduce the mission and negotiate an exit strategy.