United Nations -The United Nations Security Council has
"strongly condemned" the kidnapping and slaying of two French radio
journalists in Mali's troubled northeast.
The journalists - Ghislaine Dupont and Claude Verlon of Radio
France International (RFI) - were found dead after being kidnapped by armed men
in the northern city of Kidal.
The two had travelled there on Saturday to interview a
spokesperson for the Tuareg separatist group the National Movement for the
Liberation of Azawad (MNLA), and were abducted outside his home, according to
their employer.
In a statement late on Saturday, the Security Council members
"expressed their condolences to the family of the victims" as well as
to the French government.
"In accordance with international humanitarian law,
journalists, media professionals and associated personnel engaged in dangerous
professional missions in areas of armed conflict are generally considered as
civilians and shall be respected and protected as such," the statement
read.
The Security Council demanded "that all parties to an armed
conflict comply fully with the obligations applicable to them under
international humanitarian law, including as related to the protection of
civilians in armed conflict."
They also called on Mali to "swiftly" investigate the
case "and bring the perpetrators to justice."
The Security Council members also "reiterated their full
support" for the UN mission in Mali and the French supporting forces,
"and called on all parties to co-operate fully" with them.
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