UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council Wednesday condemned "in the strongest terms" an attack against UN peacekeepers in Mali Tuesday, which caused the death of two Chadian peacekeepers and injured two others.
The members of the Security Council called on the Malian government to swiftly investigate this attack and bring the perpetrators to justice, said a press statement of the Security Council.
They said that attacks targeting peacekeepers may constitute war crimes under international law.
They stressed that involvement in planning, directing, sponsoring or conducting attacks against peacekeepers in Mali constitute a basis for sanctions designations.
The Security Council on Tuesday unanimously adopted a resolution to impose travel ban and asset freeze on individuals and entities responsible for derailing the peace process in Mali.
It decided to set up a sanctions committee to designate individuals and entities that are subjected to sanctions.
In Wednesday's statement, the members of the Security Council reiterated their full support for UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (Minusma) and the French forces that support it.
They expressed their concern about the security situation in Mali and urged the Malian parties to fully implement the Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in Mali.
They noted that the full implementation of the agreement and the intensification of efforts to overcome asymmetric threats can contribute to improving the security situation across Mali.
They further stressed the importance that Minusma has the necessary capacities to fulfil its mandate and promote the safety and security of the UN peacekeepers.
Minusma was established in April 2013 to stabilize the situation in Mali, which is plagued by a civil war between the north and the south, and the rise of Islamist militants.
