FDLR kills five civilians, injures peacekeepers

The Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) militia on Tuesday shot dead five Congolese civilians and seriously wounded six UN Peacekeepers in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).The victims, including a local interpreter, were wounded in a “cowardly” overnight ambush in the strife-torn eastern DRC, according to the UN News Centre.The six peacekeepers, part of the Indian contingent serving with the UN Organisation Stabilisation Mission in DRC (MONUSCO), and their interpreter, were ambushed while returning from a patrol with 12 other peacekeepers near Buganza in North Kivu province.“This premeditated, targeted and deliberate attack is inadmissible. We will work with the national authorities to identify those responsible for this ignoble deed so that they are called to justice,” Roger Meece, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative and head of MONUSCO, is quoted as saying by the UN News Centre.The Peacekeepers were members of a patrol team that had reportedly gone to rescue villagers. Reports say the resultant exchange of fire lasted about 30minutes during which the six peacekeepers and an interpreter were wounded. They were all, later, evacuated to the North Kivu provincial capital, Goma, for treatment.The FDLR militia has killed over 50 Congolese civilians in eastern DRC since the beginning of May, according to reports.

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FDLR kills five civilians, injures peacekeepers