UN chief slams killing of two UN Chinese peacekeepers in South Sudan fighting
Updated: 2016-07-12 09:48
(Xinhua)
|
||||||||
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon addresses the press on the on-going situation in South Sudan, at the UN headquarters in New York, the United States, July 11, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua] |
UNITED NATIONS - UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday condemned the killing of two Chinese peacekeepers in renewed fighting between South Sudan's rival army factions in capital Juba.
"I condemn the killing of two Chinese peacekeepers and one UN national staff," the secretary-general told reporters here. "Let me start by expressing my deep condolences to the families and loved ones of all those who have been killed in the fighting that has consumed Juba over the past four days."
"Many people have been killed in heavy fighting. There are growing fears that many more could die in another round of violence," Ban said.
"The renewed fighting is outrageous. It is yet another grievous setback. It deepens the country's suffering," he said. "It makes a mockery of commitments to peace."
The UN mission in South Sudan on Monday reported heavy fighting in Juba, including in areas close to its compounds in Jebel and Tomping.
The latest round of violence followed deadly clashes between the rival factions on Friday and Sunday in the capital city.
South Sudan's Health Ministry says at least 271 people were killed in Friday's clashes. The exact number of those killed in fighting since Sunday is not known. On Sunday, the UN Security Council said in a press statement that the 15-nation UN body "condemned in the strongest terms the escalation of fighting in Juba," and they expressed their sympathies and condolences to the families of Chinese peacekeepers who were killed or injured in the attacks.
South Sudan has canceled this year's independence celebrations due to the economic crunch resulting from more than two years of civil conflict. It won independence on July 9 2011 from Sudan after more than two decades of war that ended in a bitter divorce.
The country again plunged into conflict in December 2013 after President Salva Kiir accused his deputy Riek Machar of plotting a coup, which the latter denied, leading to a cycle of retaliatory killings.
President Kiir and former rebel leader and now First Vice President Machar signed a peace deal in August that paved way for the formation of the transitional unity government to end more than two years of civil conflict.
- 8-year-old boy gains 11kg to save father
- China rebuts claim it sank Vietnamese fishing boat
- China on high alert as floods kill 237
- What I want is a healthy grandson, so I will try anything I can
- China calls on US, Japan to stop twisting the facts
- Girl suffers sibling rivalry disorder after younger brother's birth
- African Union opens with launch of continental passport
- Baton Rouge shooter identified as ex-Marine Gavin Long
- Navy chiefs set for fresh talks on South China Sea
- Arrests hit 6,000 as Turkey cracks down on army and judges after coup bid
- A close look at Theresa May's new cabinet
- More than 70 dead in Nice attack as France marks national day
- Ten photos from around China: July 8-14
- The only surviving panda triplets weaned from milk
- First sea-air emergency drill held near Sansha
- Truck attack in Nice as France marks national day
- Picture Chinese stories: 10 illustration books you can't miss
- Theresa May: New Iron Lady in Downing Street
- Large amount of sea grass besieges Qingdao
- Monks seek tranquility inside lotus ponds
Most Viewed
Editor's Picks
Anti-graft campaign targets poverty relief |
Cherry blossom signal arrival of spring |
In pictures: Destroying fake and shoddy products |
China's southernmost city to plant 500,000 trees |
Cavers make rare finds in Guangxi expedition |
Cutting hair for Longtaitou Festival |
Today's Top News
Ministry slams US-Korean THAAD deployment
Two police officers shot at protest in Dallas
Abe's blame game reveals his policies failing to get results
Ending wildlife trafficking must be policy priority in Asia
Effects of supply-side reform take time to be seen
Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi to meet Kerry
Chinese stocks surge on back of MSCI rumors
Liang avoids jail in shooting death
US Weekly
Geared to go |
The place to be |