UN Secretary-General condemns attack in Central African Republic weeks after departure of UN mission

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UN Secretary-General condemns attack in Central African Republic weeks after departure of UN mission

2010-11-27 12:48:12 GMT+7 (ICT)

UNITED NATIONS (BNO NEWS) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday condemned the recent attack by rebel forces in the town of Birao in northeastern Central African Republic (CAR).

The attack came less than two weeks after the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT) handed over its camps to national authorities as it was considered that both countries could tackle their respective security and humanitarian challenges on their own.

The Secretary-General called on all concerned parties to exercise restraint in order to ensure the safety of civilians. CAR authorities are currently making efforts to restore normalcy, and ensure peace and reconciliation among all the parties concerned.

Ban also reiterated his call on the international community to assist the national authorities in building the capacity of the national defense forces, in order to strengthen State authority throughout the country.

MINURCAT was set up by the Security Council in 2007 to help protect civilians and facilitate humanitarian aid to thousands of people uprooted due to insecurity in the two countries and neighboring Sudan.

North-eastern CAR continues to suffer from inter-ethnic conflict, banditry and cross-border criminality, particularly in the Vakaga and Haute-Kotto regions. In anticipation of MINURCAT’s withdrawal, the Secretary-General expressed his concern about the security situation in that region of the country.

"I urge Member States to respond favorably to the request of the Government of the Central African Republic for assistance and the further deployment of trained and equipped national forces," Ban said.

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