Wounded SA soldiers stable

(File photo) Photo: Matthews Baloyi

(File photo) Photo: Matthews Baloyi

Published Nov 13, 2012

Share

Johannesburg - Two South African soldiers were in a stable condition after being wounded in crossfire between the Democratic Republic of Congo army and rebels, the military said on Tuesday.

SA National Defence Force spokesman Brigadier General Xolani Mabanga said the two were wounded on Monday.

“Details are sketchy at this stage, but there were no serious injuries,” he said.

“They were stabilised and evacuated from Kivu, where the incident happened, to a hospital in Goma, where they received medical treatment.”

Press agency AFP reported on Tuesday that the two were part of a United Nations peace-keeping force.

“The local population fled the fighting and others sought shelter at our base and that's how the South African contingent deployed, to protect the population,” Lieutenant Colonel Prosper Basse, a UN spokesman, told AFP.

It was not immediately clear if any civilians were killed or wounded in the clashes, which left one army soldier dead and around 20 wounded, he said.

The fighting lasted several hours. - Sapa

Related Topics: