Ivorian troops also killed, plus 7 UN peacekeepers
After seven UN peacekeeping soldiers were killed in southwestern Ivory Coast near Liberia’s border on Friday, Ivorian defense minister has said a number of government forces have also been killed in an ambush believed to be carried out by dissidents.
The UN on Friday confirmed that the 7 soldiers killed near the Liberian border were from Niger.
Secretary General Ban ki moon said he was saddened and outraged by the deaths.
The UN said the peacekeepers were patrolling in an area between the villages of Tai and Para, after hearing rumours of an imminent attack on communities in the region.
A UN spokesman told the French news agency, AFP that the attack was the first of its kind in the country.
Meanwhile, Ivorian deputy Defense Minister Paul Koffi Koffi said a joint operation, including his government troops and Liberia will be carried out in the border area.
Earlier this week, Human Rights Watch said militants loyal to former Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo were recruiting children in Liberia to carry out cross border raids into Ivory Coast.
But the Liberian government has denied the claims.
The rights group said militants’ raids from Liberia into Ivorian border towns have led to the deaths of 40 people since last year.
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