UN Security Council condemns attack on UN Peacekeepers

Colombo (News1st): The UN Security Council issued a strongly-worded statement on the attack carried out against the Sri Lankan contingent of Peacekeepers in Mali. The UN Secrity Council called on the Government of Mali to take strict action to bring the perpetrators to justice.

The members of the UN Security Council expressed their deepest condolences in a statement released on Friday and expressed sympathy to the families of the victims, as well as to Sri Lanka and to United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA). Council members wished a speedy and full recovery to those injured and "paid tribute to the peacekeepers who risk their lives."

The 15-member body "called on the Government of Mali to swiftly investigate this attack and bring the perpetrators to justice. They underlined that attacks targeting peacekeepers may constitute war crimes under international law."  The Council stressed, "that involvement in planning, directing, sponsoring or conducting attacks against MINUSMA peacekeepers constitutes a basis for sanctions designations pursuant to United Nations Security Council resolutions."