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UN: seven peacekeepers killed in Ivory Coast ambush UN: seven peacekeepers killed in Ivory Coast ambush
(about 6 hours later)
Seven UN peacekeepers have been killed in an ambush in a remote area of south-west Ivory Coast while trying to protect civilians, the United Nations says. Armed men have killed seven UN peacekeepers trying to protect villagers in Ivory Coast and more than 40 of their colleagues who stayed to guard from more attacks remain in danger, the United Nations said.
Bert Koenders, the UN envoy to the west African nation, said the peacekeepers were part of a patrol south of Tai in an area which the UN mission recently reinforced because of threats of attacks against the civilian population. Hundreds of villagers were fleeing the area near the Liberian border, and UN officials said others may have been killed or injured. Authorities have been unable to confirm any additional casualties because of the remoteness of the area near the Liberian border.
He condemned the attack "in the strongest terms" and said the seven peacekeepers who died were from Niger. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned the attack "in the strongest possible terms," saying he was "saddened and outraged" about the deaths of the peacekeepers, all from Niger. He urged the government of Ivory Coast to identify the perpetrators and bring them to justice.
Kieran Dwyer, the spokesman for the UUN peacekeeping department, said "we are moving in reinforcements as soon as we have daylight". Ivory Coast's deputy defence minister Paul Koffi Koffi said government forces, along with Liberian and UN forces, will launch an operation on 15 June to find the men responsible. He said they were "militia men or mercenaries."
A UN official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the peacekeeping patrol was attacked by a large number of people. The official estimated that perhaps 40 peacekeepers had been in the area and were dug in overnight to protect the village against a new attack. Koffi Koffi said they could not respond sooner because it would take time to gather equipment and prepare the forces.
Koenders said in the statement that the mission "will take all necessary measures following this grave violation of international law". An Ivorian Cabinet official who was briefed on the matter said President Alasanne Ouattara requested helicopter gunships from the UN and expected them to arrive by Monday.
UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon said he was "saddened and outraged" by the attack. "I understand that their colleagues are still in danger. Even tonight, after the attack, more than 40 peacekeepers remain with the villagers in this remote region to protect them from this armed group," he said. Bert Koenders, the UN envoy to the west African nation, said the peacekeepers were part of a patrol south of the town of Tai, an area the UN mission recently reinforced because of threats of attacks against the civilian population. The ambush involved a large group of armed men, a UN official said.
"Their colleagues are still in danger," Ban told reporters. "Even tonight, after the attack, more than 40 peacekeepers remain with the villagers in this remote region to protect them from this armed group."
The mayor of Tai, Desire Gnonkonte, told AP that hundreds of villagers were fleeing the area.
"We are moving in reinforcements as soon as we have daylight," said Kieran Dwyer, the spokesman for the UN peacekeeping department.
Josephine Guerrero, a spokeswoman for the UN's Department of Peacekeeping Operations, said it was the biggest attack on peacekeepers in recent years.
Sylvie van den Wildenberg, acting spokeswoman for the UN mission in Ivory Coast, called it "the first attack of its kind" against UN peacekeepers in the country.
She said several vehicles were on a reconnaissance patrol near the village of Para on the southern axis of Tai to follow up on "rumors of movement of armed people in the area and threats on the security of civilians."
"There were several vehicles on the patrol and the leading vehicles were strongly hit," van den Wildenberg said. "The area is densely forested and very tough terrain."
The United Nations has had a peacekeeping mission in Ivory Coast since 2004.The United Nations has had a peacekeeping mission in Ivory Coast since 2004.
At the end of April, the UN said there were about 9,400 peacekeeping troops, 200 military observers and 1,350 international police in the mission along with civilian staff. Over 40 countries are contributing military personnel.At the end of April, the UN said there were about 9,400 peacekeeping troops, 200 military observers and 1,350 international police in the mission along with civilian staff. Over 40 countries are contributing military personnel.
Koenders said the UN mission "will take all necessary measures following this grave violation of international law."