Darfur: About 100 dead in air force attack

A Sudanese air force bombardment of villagers in &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/world/20/91/367/12391_Sudan.html ' target=_blank>Darfur this week killed or wounded almost 100 people, a UN spokeswoman said Friday, calling the bombing a major violation of a fragile ceasefire in the conflict-torn region.

The bombardment at the village of Shangil Tobaya, which took place Wednesday, forced "thousands" of people to flee, spokeswoman Radhia Achouri said in a phone interview from Khartoum.

Ms. Achouri said &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/politics/2002/07/11/32233.html ' target=_blank>African Union observers at the scene had reported "almost 100 casualties" but did not specify how many were dead and how many wounded, reports The Globe and Mail.

The United Nations mission in Khartoum spoke to Sudan's Foreign Ministry about the bombardment, but has received no reply.

&to=http:// english.pravda.ru/main/18/88/354/12936_NGO.html ' target=_blank>NGO field workers based in Shangil Tobaya, 65km south of El Fasher, reported witnessing bombs exploding on the ground and an air force Antonov circling overhead on Wednesday afternoon. Later the same day, the African Union, which has 1 400 cease-fire monitors and protection troops in Darfur, confirmed there was an aerial bombardment and called it a "major violation" of the cease-fire, informs News24.