Ban deplores UN base attack in Mali

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday condemned an attack against the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) early in the day that killed five peacekeepers and injured approximately 30, said a statement of Ban's spokesman.

MINUSMA base in the northern Mali town of Kidal was attacked by mortars and a truck bomb on Friday, Xinhua reported.

The secretary-general underscored that attacks targeting UN peacekeepers constitute war crimes under the international law and called for the perpetrators of this attack to be brought to justice, it said.

Ban also reiterated that attacks against MINUSMA will not weaken the determination of the United Nations to support the Malian government, the parties to the peace agreement, and the people of Mali, in their efforts to achieve lasting peace and stability, it said.

Conveying his sincere condolences to the bereaved families and to the governments of those concerned, Ban expresses his profound sympathy to and support for those wounded and wishes them a speedy recovery, it said.

Mali, with the support of MINUSMA as well as UN agencies and programmes, has been seeking to restore stability and rebuild following a series of setbacks since early 2012, including a military coup, and renewed fighting between government forces and Tuareg rebels.