UN chief strongly condemns attack killing French peacekeeper in S. Lebanon

UNITED NATIONS, April 18 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday strongly condemned the attack that killed one French peacekeeper serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and injured three others earlier in the day, his spokesperson said in a statement.

"Attacks on peacekeepers must stop. They are grave violations of international humanitarian law and of Security Council Resolution 1701 (2006) and may amount to war crimes," said the statement, issued by spokesperson Stephane Dujarric.

Guterres reiterated his call on all actors to uphold their obligations under international law, ensure the safety of UN personnel and the inviolability of UN property and assets, and respect UNIFIL's freedom of movement, the statement said.

"All attacks on peacekeepers must be promptly investigated, and those responsible must be effectively prosecuted and held accountable," it said.

The statement noted that according to a UNIFIL initial assessment, the peacekeepers came under fire from non-state actors, presumed to be Hezbollah, while investigating a location where suspected improvised explosive devices had reportedly been placed on a road between two United Nations positions in the UNIFIL area of operations in southern Lebanon.

This is the third incident in recent weeks to have resulted in the deaths of peacekeepers serving with UNIFIL and occurred despite a 10-day cessation of hostilities announced on April 16, the statement said, urging all actors to respect the truce and cease fire.

"The Secretary-General expresses his deepest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of the peacekeeper who died, and to the Government and people of the French Republic. He wishes a full and fast recovery to the injured peacekeepers," the statement said. ■