By Opheera McDoom KHARTOUM, Nov 23 (Reuters) - The African Union has accused Darfur rebels of plotting to ambush and steal its fuel convoys in the troubled region, where an ill-equipped AU force is struggling to stem violence which has killed 200,000. Violence has escalated despite an AU-brokered May peace deal, with a new rebel alliance called the National Redemption Front (NRF) rejecting the accord and renewing hostilities with the government. "Such actions constitute flagrant violations of the ceasefire and negate current efforts of broadening the peace process and making it more inclusive," an AU statement viewed by Reuters on Thursday said. The world's largest humanitarian operation is seeking to help 2.5 million in camps in Darfur, but the 14,000 aid workers have been hindered by insecurity, government restrictions and rebels ambushing their convoys of food and fuel. In Addis Ababa last week the government agreed to renew peace efforts to include those who reject the May deal. But the same day it launched a major offensive against rebel positions in North Darfur, rebels and the African Union said. The army denied this. Rebels have long sustained their operations by ambushing and stealing from U.N., aid and AU convoys in Darfur, condemned by U.N. officials. The rebels deny any looting but Reuters witnesses have seen U.N. trucks and other vehicles in rebel areas. The AU said: "The African Union mission hereby warns that any attempt to take away fuel or any other assets of the mission will be resisted with all the resources at the disposal of its troops." A number of AU troops have been killed in the past two years in ambushes on their convoys. It was not always clear who was responsible. Mostly non-Arab rebels took up arms in early 2003, accusing central government of marginalising the remote west. Khartoum mobilised tribes to quell the revolt. But the tribal militia, mostly of Arab origin, stand accused of a campaign of rape, looting and murder which Washington calls genocide. Khartoum denies genocide. A U.N. investiation concluded no genocide had taken place, but that there was clear evidence of crimes against humanity. The International Criminal Court is investigating alleged war crimes in Darfur, a move Khartoum bitterly opposes.
