Seven soldiers injured in southern Senegal clash

DAKAR, Senegal (Reuters) -- Seven Senegalese soldiers were wounded in a clash with armed gunmen believed to be separatist rebels in the southern province of Casamance, one official source said on Monday.

The source said the clash occurred on Sunday in the area of Nyassia, some 20 km (12 miles) west of the provincial capital, Ziguinchor.

"An army supply vehicle was ambushed by bush rebels. Seven soldiers were wounded, two of them seriously," the source said.

The source did not say whether the gunmen, thought to be rebels of the Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance (MFDC), had suffered any casualties.

The MFDC began an armed struggle in 1982, demanding independence for the tourist and agricultural province, which they said had been neglected by the central government.

A ceasefire was agreed in December 1999 but fighting has flared up again this year.

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