U.N. chief condemns deadly violence targeting U.N. in Congo

Congolese policemen stand guard as protesters gather outside the compound of a United Nations peacekeeping force's warehouse in Goma in the North Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo July 26, 2022. REUTERS/Esdras Tsongo

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemned on Tuesday violence targeting the United Nations in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo that killed three peacekeepers, a U.N. spokesperson said.

"He underscores that any attack directed against United Nations peacekeepers may constitute a war crime and calls upon the Congolese authorities to investigate these incidents and swiftly bring those responsible to justice," deputy U.N. spokesperson Farhan Haq said in a statement.

Guterres also said the United Nations would work with Congolese authorities to investigate the deaths of demonstrators.

(Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Eric Beech)