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2nd LD Writethru: UN chief saddened to learn of death of five Rwandan peacekeepers in CAR

Xinhua, August 9, 2015 Adjust font size:

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Saturday said that he was "saddened to learn of the death of five Rwandan peacekeepers" in the Central African Republic (CAR), offering condolences to the bereaved families.

Ban, in a statement issued here Saturday night, said that the five fallen UN peacekeepers were serving in the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA).

"A full investigation into the circumstances of this incident in which eight additional peacekeepers were wounded is ongoing," the statement said, without disclosing any details on the deadly incident.

A Rwandan soldier serving under UN peacekeeping mission in CAR opened fire on comrades early Saturday, killing five of them and wounding eight others before shooting dead himself, Rwanda's Defence and Military spokesperson said Saturday.

"The secretary-general offers his deepest condolences to the bereaved families and to the government and people of Rwanda," the UN statement said. "He wishes a speedy recovery to the injured."

The incident occurred on Saturday at around 5:45 a.m. local time in Bangui, at Rwanda Battalion Headquarters. The casualties were immediately evacuated to hospital, spokesperson Brigadier General Joseph Nzabamwita said in a statement.

Since January 2014, Rwanda has deployed battalion of 800 soldiers to reinforce the MINUSCA in the CAR.

In addition, another special forces comprising of 140 Rwandan police officers, who are part of Rwanda's elite Police Unit, have been deployed to Bangui to conduct patrols, ensure protection of VIPs, key installations and other escort duties.

Fighting has gripped the CAR since early 2013, when mostly Muslim Seleka rebels seized power in the capital Bangui, sparking reprisal attacks from Christian militias. The international peacekeeping operation in the landlocked CAR stems from the political violence.

France and African nations sent peacekeepers after a coalition of mostly Muslim rebels ousted President Francois Bozize in March 2013. Christian and Muslim militias continued to battle for control before a tentative political transition began.

The violence prompted a humanitarian crisis, as hundreds of thousands of people fled their homes. Some sought refuge in neighboring countries, but many others were internally displaced, living in makeshift camps.

After the initial wave of peacekeepers, the UN Security Council in April 2014 formally set up the UN peacekeeping force of up to 11,800 troops, a force to which Rwanda contributes. Endi