SECRETARY-GENERAL STRONGLY CONDEMNS KILLING OF UN PEACEKEEPERS

Following is a statement attributable to the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General strongly condemns the murder of nine United Nations peacekeepers from Bangladesh today during an ambush by unidentified militia groups near Kafé in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) who were part of a company protecting a camp for internally displaced people.

He extends his deepest sympathy and condolences to the Government of Bangladesh and the families of the victims, who have sacrificed their lives in the service of peace.

The Secretary-General calls on the Transitional Government of the DRC to make every effort to find and hold accountable those responsible for this reprehensible and criminal attack.  He reaffirms that this attack will not deter MONUC from carrying out its mandate in helping move the peace process forward in the DRC.

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