UN outraged over attack on S. Sudan base that left 58 deadApril 19, 2014 - 13:58 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The UN has expressed outrage at a deadly attack on one of its bases in South Sudan, saying it could "constitute a war crime", BBC News reported. Thursday's attack by armed youths on the base in Bor left at least 58 dead, including children. Thousands of civilians are sheltering from ethnic violence there. The UN said its peacekeepers returned fire as a mob of some 300 people forced their way into the base in an "unprovoked attack". Thousands of people have been killed in South Sudan since fighting began in December between supporters of President Salva Kiir and his former deputy, Riek Machar. More than one million people have fled their homes in the conflict, some to neighbouring countries. The UN said: "The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms these acts and underscored that attacks on civilians and UN peacekeepers may constitute a war crime." It added: "The members of the Security Council called on the government of South Sudan to immediately take steps to ensure the safety of all civilians and UNMISS Protection of Civilian sites in South Sudan, to swiftly investigate these incidents, and to bring the perpetrators of these egregious acts to justice." Some 100 people were also wounded in the attack and the death toll may rise, the UN said. The senior UN official in South Sudan, Toby Lanzer, praised the actions of the peacekeepers from India, Nepal and South Korea. He told the BBC: "It is the bravery of the peacekeepers that managed to repel the attack. Unfortunately we have had significant loss of life." Almost 5,000 civilians are sheltering at the base in Bor. South Sudan seceded from Sudan in 2011 after a long and bloody conflict to become the world's newest state. Photo: Stuart Price/UN/AP Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Russia warns Armenia against “falling into West’s trap” Zakharova maintained, however, that anything that will benefit the people of Armenia can only be welcomed. CSTO: Armenia has not participated in secretariat’s work recently Recently Armenia has not participated in the work of the secretariat of the CSTO, Imangali Tasmagambetov said. Meeting with U.S., EU not against third parties, says Armenia The meeting scheduled for April 5 is dedicated to strengthening of the Armenia-EU-US cooperation, Yerevan added. Ucom launches network modernization efforts in few regions of Armenia In particular, on March 28, the legacy Mobile Switching Subsystem will be replaced with a new one. |