Juba: The killers in the tragic ambush of UN peacekeepers in South Sudan, that claimed the lives of five Indian Army personnel on Tuesday, not only outnumbered their target six times over but were also armed with sophisticated weapons, eyewitnesses said. In comparison, the convoy of 35 UN peacekeepers from India was bogged down by some heavy boring equipment and unarmed technical personnel, numbering around a dozen, even as the soldiers did manage to push back their adversaries, the eyewitnesses added.
The convoy of 11 vehicles was returning from Bor, the capital of Jonglei state in the world's newest country - and Africa's 54th nation - after experts from Ruaha Drilling, an Indian infrastructure company, were being escorted back after spending a month executing a borewell in the difficult swampy conditions. Ruaha is owned by Manohar Reddy Manda and Bose Reddy, entrepreneurs from Andhra Pradesh.
Besides UN-owned vehicles, four Ruaha vehicles in the middle of the convoy had been badly damaged. Those killed included two UN civilians, four Kenyans affiliated to the contractor and one South Sudanese. Two others, both Indians construction staff, had been wounded too. Eyewitnesses said that the Indian peacekeepers had progressed about 40 kms from their emanating point.
At around 9 am, some 200 armed men waylaid them from one side of the road. Outnumbered and taken by surprise, the men managed to push back even though the attackers had within minutes covered the entire convoy with weapons like anti-tank guns. Their valour
03:43 PM, Apr 12, 2013
Washington: Emphasising that the humanitarian crisis in Syria is getting worse, US President Barack Obama has stressed on the urgency of a political transition in the country. "Obviously the humanitarian crisis (in Syria) has gotten worse," Obama said on Thursday following his meeting with the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, at the Oval Office of the White House. "Secretary General Ban and I shared the view that we are at...
07:42 AM, Apr 12, 2013
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday strongly condemned the killing of five Indian Army personnel in an attack on a convoy of a UN mission in South Sudan, saying that such an act was a war crime and its perpetrators should be brought to justice. Five Indian Army personnel, including a Lt Colonel were killed on Tuesday and four injured during the UN peacekeeping mission when their 32-member convoy...
11:16 PM, Apr 09, 2013
India's first indigenously created low-cost tablet Aakash will be showcased at the United Nations headquarters on Wednesday. India will be presenting a tablet to the representative from each country at the General Assembly which begins on Wednesday. ...
10:08 AM, Nov 28, 2012
Beijing: The US and China on Wednesday failed to reach a consensus on how to resolve Beijing's territorial disputes with smaller nations in South China Sea, as Secretary of State Hillary Clinton held talks with top leaders in Beijing but not 'President-in-waiting' Xi Jinping who cancelled a meeting at the last minute. Clinton, who arrived in Beijing on Tuesday on what was stated to be her last visit as Secretary...
10:02 AM, Sep 06, 2012
A bloody massacre in Houla in Syria left 92 people including 32 children dead. ...
11:28 AM, May 27, 2012
United Nations: India has given over $4 million to the UN Democracy Fund (UNDEF), bringing to nearly $30 million its total contribution to the entity launched in 2005 by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the then US President George Bush for promotion of democratic values. India's Permanent Representative to the UN Hardeep Singh Puri handed over a cheque for $4.17 million on Friday to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. Ban...
05:27 AM, Apr 01, 2012
United Nations: UN chief Ban Ki-moon has termed as "regrettable" Pakistan's decision to boycott the Bonn conference on Afghanistan and said that its participation was required as the country has a role to play in its war-torn neighbour's peace and stability. Ban is in Germany for the international conference, where he also met Afghan President Hamid Karzai. Addressing the media, Ban said Pakistan not attending the crucial meet was "their...
10:01 AM, Dec 05, 2011
United Nations: UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon has expressed concern over the security situation in Afghanistan, telling President Hamid Karzai that the peace process in the war-torn country should be inclusive and ensure respect for human rights. Ban met Karzai in Bonn, Germany ahead of Mondays international conference on Afghanistan, according to a statement from his spokesperson here. The Secretary General "expressed concern about the security situation in Afghanistan...
12:08 AM, Dec 05, 2011
United Nations: Expressing deep concern at the escalating violence in Egypt and Syria, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has called on authorities in both the countries to ensure protection of human rights. Ban deplored the loss of life and growing number of those injured in Egypt as thousands of people continued their protests in Cairo against its military's intentions to retain power even after the parliamentary polls are held on...
09:44 AM, Nov 26, 2011
United Nations: UN chief Ban Ki-moon has welcomed the transition of power in Yemen, saying all sides should now honour their commitments to immediately bring to an end all violence and refrain from further provocations. The political settlement agreement, signed by President Ali Abdullah Saleh, was an "important step for the people of Yemen in moving their country forward towards a better future," Ban's spokesperson said in a statement. In...
08:55 AM, Nov 24, 2011
United Nations: The UN secretary-general has appealed for a massive increase in funds for programs to stop the global pandemic of violence against women, saying the UN received more 2,500 applications this year requesting nearly $ 1.2 billion. Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday said that over 15 years, the UN Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women has delivered grants worth $ 77 million to 339 initiatives in 126 countries, "but...
08:39 AM, Nov 24, 2011
United Nations: With countries across the world, including India, staking claim to being home to the seven billionth baby, UN Chief Ban Ki Moon said his office would not be able to pin-point who the world's seven billionth inhabitant is and where the baby was born. "I am not in a position to make a firm clarification on who is the seven billionth baby," Moon said. In India, the birth...
08:54 AM, Nov 01, 2011
New York: Speaking to CNN-IBN, Unitet Nations Secretary General Ban ki Moon has laid stress on member nations to bring about democratic and representative changes in the UN Security Council. Regarding reform of the Security Council, Moon said, "More democracy and representative model needed". But, the UN Secretary General said it is upto the member states to take initiative in that direction. "Upto to member states to take needed steps....
10:12 AM, Oct 28, 2011
United Nations: UN Secretary General Ban Ki moon criticised Israel on Friday over reports that it plans to build 2,600 more housing units in East Jerusalem, saying further settlement activity was 'unacceptable'. "The Secretary General is deeply concerned at continued efforts to advance planning for new Israeli settlements in occupied East Jerusalem," Ban's press office said in a statement. "Recent developments in this regard have been unacceptable, particularly as efforts...
11:50 AM, Oct 15, 2011
United Nations: UN Security Council has allowed Britain to release about $ 1.6 billion in seized assets to Libya for emergency aid, as the chief of the world body underlined that the humanitarian situation in the war-torn country demands 'urgent action'. "Further action will be needed in the coming days. I appeal to the Council to continue to be responsive to the requests of the transitional authority in Libya for...
12:12 PM, Aug 31, 2011
United Nations: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday made a plea to the international community to help famine-stricken Somalia, as the drought has affected 11 million people across the Horn of Africa. "To save the lives of the people at risk the vast majority of them women and children we need approximately $1.6 billion in aid," said Ban in an op-ed piece published in the Los Angeles Times. "So far,...
01:41 AM, Jul 23, 2011
United Nations: UN chief Ban Ki-moon has strongly condemned the serial bomb blasts that rocked India's financial hub of Mumbai, killing at least 21 people and injuring over 100. "The Secretary-General (Ban) condemns the attacks that have killed and injured many in Mumbai," said a statement from his office. "No cause or grievance can justify indiscriminate violence against civilians. The Secretary-General expresses his solidarity with the Government and people of...
08:47 AM, Jul 14, 2011
United Nations: Underlining that the Kashmir issue needs to be resolved peacefully through talks, United Nation Chief Ban ki Moon has said that he would discuss with leaders of India and Pakistan on how he can help in the process. Following his election as Secretary General of the UN for a second term, Ban indicated he was willing to help India and Pakistan find a solution to the Kashmir issue....
04:54 PM, Jun 23, 2011
