SG/SM/9244
                                                                                                                        AFR/891
                                                                                                                        8 April 2004

Secretary-General Saddened at Deaths of Six UN Peacekeepers in Democratic Republic of Congo

NEW YORK, 7 April (UN Headquarters) -- The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan on the death of peacekeepers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo:

The Secretary-General is deeply saddened by the tragic drowning of six United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) contingent members in Lake Kivu yesterday after their armoured personnel carrier was involved in a serious accident.  He extends his most sincere condolences to the Government and people of South Africa, and to the families of the bereaved.

The MONUC is carrying out a full investigation into the incident.

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