Off the wire
• Roundup: U.S. stocks leap on Greek debt deal  • 1st LD: UN chief slams twin suicide bombings in north Cameroon  • Urgent: UN chief slams twin suicide bombings in north Cameroon  • Hillary Clinton has higher wages for everyday Americans at heart of economic agenda  • Albania introduces new regulation to protect customers from bank abuses  • Chinese opera "The Grand Canal" greeted with enthusiasm in Rome  • Roundup: Canadian stock market rallies over Greece debt bailout agreement  • UN concerned by CAR decision to deny refugees vote  • Visiting Schulz expects Albania to progress with rule of law  • Feature: Tropical Asian jungle re-created at Britain's Chester Zoo  
You are here: 　 Home

2nd LD Writethru: UN chief slams twin suicide bombings in north Cameroon

Xinhua, July 14, 2015 Adjust font size:

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon on Monday strongly condemned the twin suicide bombings that targeted the city of Fotokol, north Cameroon, Sunday, voicing his support for the government of Cameroon and countries of the region and encouraging them to further strengthen their cooperation in addressing the threat posed by Boko Haram.

The secretary-general "extends his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and to the Government and people of Cameroon, and wishes a speedy recovery to those injured in the terrorist attacks," said a statement issued here by Ban's spokesman.

Two female bombers blew themselves up near an army camp in Fotokol and the explosions took place 50 meters apart within a few seconds of each other, killing at least 14 people, including 10 civilians and a Chadian soldier. Seven others were injured, they were four Chadian and three Cameroonian soldiers. Boko Haram Islamists were blamed for the attacks, reports said.

"The secretary-general is encouraged by the measures already taken by the government of Cameroon to counter the Boko Haram threat, and commends the government and people of Cameroon for welcoming refugees from the region since the beginning of the crisis," said the statement. "The secretary-general expresses his support for the government of Cameroon and countries of the region and encourages them to further strengthen their cooperation in addressing the threat posed by Boko Haram, as well as ensuring strict compliance with international humanitarian and human rights law."

Chad sent troops in January this year to neighboring Cameroon, Nigeria and Niger to work with these countries to fight against Boko Haram.

Fotokol was attacked by Boko Haram militants in February this year, when around 7,000 Nigerian Islamist sect Boko Haram militants launched a violent attack on Fotokol, with heavy weapons and 30 armored trucks, the reports said, adding that as a result, Fotokol was lost to the control of the militants and retaken by joint army a few hours later.

The Cameroonian government said 81 civilians were killed in the attack. Endite