SECRETARY-GENERAL APPALLED BY ATTACK ON UN MISSION CONVOY IN SOUTH SUDAN, CALLS ON GOVERNMENT TO BRING PERPETRATORS OF CRIME TO JUSTICE

NEW YORK, April 10, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General is appalled by the attack on an UNMISS (United Nations Mission in South Sudan) convoy this morning. He condemns in the strongest terms the killing of five Indian peacekeepers and two UNMISS national staff and five civilian staff contractors in Gumuruk, Jonglei State, South Sudan. Nine other colleagues were also injured in the attack, and some are in critical condition.

He calls on the Government of South Sudan to bring the perpetrators of this crime to justice. He recalls that the killing of peacekeepers is a war crime that falls under the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court.

The Secretary-General expresses his deepest condolences to the Governments of India and South Sudan and to the families of the peacekeepers, staff members and contractors killed in the attack.