Three UN Peacekeepers Killed in C.Africa Ahead of National Polls

The news came after a rebel coalition called off a ceasefire and said it would resume its march on the capital, as well as the arrival of troops from Russia and Rwanda to shore up the government of the resource-rich country.

“Three peacekeepers from Burundi were killed and two others were wounded,” the UN said in a statement on Friday following attacks on UN troops and Central African national defence and security forces.

The assaults took place in Dekoa, central Kemo Prefecture, and in Bakouma, in the southern Mbomou Prefecture, it said, without providing further details.

Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, strongly condemned the latest incident, and called on the CAR authorities to investigate the “heinous” assaults.

He also warned that attacks against United Nations peacekeepers could constitute war crimes.

Ahead of the presidential and legislative elections to be held on Sunday, 63-year-old incumbent President Faustin Archange Touadera has accused his predecessor Francois Bozize of plotting a coup.

Bozize — who is under UN sanctions and barred from running — denies the charges.

On Tuesday a militia briefly seized the country’s fourth biggest town before it was retaken by security forces backed by UN peacekeepers.