SECRETARY-GENERAL EXTENDS CONDOLENCES TO FAMILY OF NEPALESE SOLDIER KILLED IN EAST TIMOR

Press Release
SG/SM/7510

SECRETARY-GENERAL EXTENDS CONDOLENCES TO FAMILY OF NEPALESE SOLDIER KILLED IN EAST TIMOR

The following statement was issued today by the Office of the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

This morning the Security Council was briefed on two clashes between unidentified armed personnel and United Nations patrols in East Timor. They occurred yesterday afternoon (local time) near the village of Holibo, in Sector West. Four Nepalese soldiers and one civilian were wounded. Regrettably, one of the soldiers died.

The Secretary-General extends his condolences to the family of the killed soldier and to the Kingdom of Nepal.

This is the latest in a series of incidents which include the killing of New Zealand soldier on 24 July, and clashes at the beginning of this month between United Nations patrols and armed groups in Sector West, which is next to the border with West Timor. In addition, reports of armed groups operating in that sector have increased in the last two weeks.

The Secretary-General is following the situation closely and is concerned over the increase in activities by armed personnel. He expects the Government of Indonesia to take effective measures to prevent any infiltration into East Timor.

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