UN chief condemns suicide attack in Mali

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has condemned the suicide attack by unknown assailants on a checkpoint of the United Nations mission in Mali in which a number of Chadian peacekeepers have been killed and injured. "The Secretary-General offers his condolences to the families of the fallen peacekeepers and wishes a swift recovery to those wounded," UN news center quoted the spokesperson as saying. The Security Council set up the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) in April to support the West African country's recovery from a coup and the occupation of its north by fundamentalists, its transition back to stability and democratic governance, and the promotion of human rights and provision of humanitarian aid. "This attack will not deter the determination of the United Nations to support the restoration of security, stability and sustainable peace in Mali," the statement noted. It appears that there are also a number of civilian casualties in this attack, which occurred in Tessalit in the Kidal region, according to the statement.