2 UN peacekeepers injured in attack in Central African Republic: spokesperson

UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Two UN peacekeepers were injured when a logistical escort convoy of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) came under attack by suspected members of an armed group in the Haut-Mbomou prefecture on Monday, a UN spokesperson said.

The two injured peacekeepers, who are from Nepal, were transferred to Bangui to receive appropriate care and are in stable condition, said Farhan Haq, deputy spokesperson for the UN secretary-general, at a daily briefing.

The head of MINUSCA, Valentine Rugwabiza, has expressed her deep concern about this new attack on blue helmets in the country and recalled that attacks against UN peacekeepers may constitute war crimes under international law, Haq said.

He added that the mission calls on the Central African authorities to spare no effort to identify the perpetrators of these acts so that they can be brought to justice.

Concerned with the security, humanitarian, human rights and political crisis in the Central African Republic and its regional implications, the UN Security Council authorized in April 2014 the deployment of MINUSCA, with the protection of civilians as its utmost priority. ■