20111220
AFP
Senegal's army said Monday it was searching for five missing soldiers following an attack last week by rebels in the southern separatist region of Casamance.

"Search operations are under way to ensure the free movement of people and goods but also to find five of our soldiers who are still missing," the army said in a statement.

Senegal had admitted that some troops were unaccounted for following an attack on a military position on December 13 by rebels from the Casamance Movement of Democratic Forces (MFDC).

Although the army denied any losses at the time, the attack, which took place in the Casamance village of Kabeum, left several dead, according to local military sources.

The army statement said two soldiers were wounded by a bomb explosion during the search operation and a third was killed by a landmine blast in another part of Casamance.

The divided MFDC has been fighting for independence since 1982 in a conflict that has claimed thousands of lives, with no immediate end in sight despite several peace accords.

At least 10 civilians were killed on November 21 near the regional capital Ziguinchor in a suspected MFDC attack.