Three Indian United Nations peacekeepers were killed in a surprise attack on their base in eastern Democratic of Republic of Congo by 50 fighters armed with machetes, spears and traditional weapons, the UN mission MONUSCO said today.
About a dozen UN peacekeepers battled some 50 unidentified attackers in the early hours of today at their base in Kirumba, in eastern Congo's troubled North Kivu province, where several armed groups are engaged in combat.
Six or seven other peacekeepers were injured in the attack, General Philippe Beni, MONUSCO chief of staff, told reporters.
"About 50 aggressors came out from the vegetation, they came discreetly at night and then hand-to-hand combat started between 10, 12 or so of our soldiers," he said.
The attack brings the number of peacekeepers killed in action to 34 since the mission began 10 years ago.
The world's largest UN peacekeeping mission has withdrawn 1,700 troops in recent months in response to calls from Congo's government to end the mission next year, but still supports operations against several armed groups in the east.
Reuters