The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) said on Tuesday that four armed men attacked its field office in Sudan's western region of Darfur, wounding a guard after shooting him on the leg.

In a statement received in Nairobi, the UNHCR said the men, who were wearing military uniforms, attacked the office in Habila in the far west of Sudan's Darfur region late Monday.

"We are concerned about the security situation in Habila, in far western Darfur, after an attack last night by four armed men in military uniform on our field office, leaving one guard wounded after being shot in the leg," the statement said.

"He is in a stable condition and has been discharged after being treated at an NGO clinic in Habila. Details are still sketchy, " the UNHCR said.

The statement said the attackers forced their way in, shot the guard, stole communications equipment, asked one of the staff for money and then left.

Habila is about 95 kilometers south of the West Darfur capital of al-Geneina. UNHCR has seven staff in Habila, and around 75 in West Darfur.

According to UNHCR, police were called in to provide protection for the compound but no other staff members were hurt in the incident.

In mid-May, UNHCR started moving Chadian refugees, who had taken refuge in the area after fleeing military and bandit activity along the border between Chad and Sudan, to a new refugee camp 60 kilometers away at Um Shalaya.

"Some 3,000 of the estimated 5,000 people at the Habila site have now been moved. The remaining refugees have preferred to remain in the area, staying with relatives or fellow tribe members," said the UNHCR.

"Over recent weeks, a further 50 refugees have arrived from the insecure border area in Chad and have told us they wish to be moved to the new camp, which has good drinking water and a health clinic," the statement said.

(Xinhua News Agency June 14, 2006)