UN condemns attack against mission in Central African Republic

UNITED NATIONS, April 3 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations on Tuesday strongly condemned the attack against the temporary base of the UN mission in Tagbara in the Central African Republic (CAR), which resulted in the death of one peacekeeper.

"The Secretary-General extends his condolences to the family of the fallen peacekeeper and wishes a speedy recovery to the injured," Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said at the daily news briefing.

Early on Tuesday morning, the temporary base of the UN mission in Tagbara, which is 60 kilometers northeast of Bambari, was attacked by anti-balaka fighters, which are terrorists based in the CAR said to be composed primarily of Christians.

Peacekeepers fired back and after several hours of exchange of fire, one peacekeeper was killed and 11 others were injured, said Dujarric.

Separately, the UN mission later discovered the bodies of 21 civilians, including four women and four children in Tagbara, he said.

On Monday evening, UN peacekeepers had been informed that the UPC group (Unite pour la Centrafrique) had detained 23 people, including 13 women and three children. These people were released peacefully to the UN mission and spent the night at the UN temporary base to guarantee their safety, Dujarric added.

On Saturday, UN peacekeepers and the CAR forces rescued 15 people who had been taken hostage by the Lord's Resistance Army, said Dujarric, adding that 15 Central Africans had been taken hostage in the village of Koumbou, near the town of Obo. Enditem