UN PEACEKEEPER KILLED IN CLASH IN EASTERN DR CONGO

24 May - An Indian soldier from the United Nations peacekeeping force in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) was killed today when his patrol went to the aid of national army forces caught in an ambush by unidentified gunmen in the east of the country.

As soon as the Indian patrol saw the army troops under attack in North Kivu, scene of years of fighting between the Government and an array of rebel groups, it went to their aid, according to a press release issued by the peacekeeping force, known as MONUC.

The soldier was wounded in the exchange of fire and taken to hospital in Goma, the provincial capital, where he later died, the 31st blue helmet in the 11-year history of MONUC to die under enemy fire.

A Congolese soldier and a civilian were also killed and three soldiers and one civilian wounded.

MONUC has helped restore a measure of stability and democratic process to a country torn apart by years of civil war and revolts that led to the greatest death toll since World War II – 4 million people killed by fighting and the attendant starvation and disease. But fighting has continued in the east.

Accra / Ghana/ Africa/ Modernghana.com