MOGADISHU, July 31 (Xinhua) -- The UN and the U.S. on Monday condemned the killing of 12 Ugandan peacekeepers during an ambush by Al-Shabaab militants in southern Somalia on Sunday.
In separate statements, both UN and U.S. said the Sunday attack in Somalia's Lower Shabelle region was an assault not only on African Union mission in Somalia (AMISOM) forces but on the people whom they are working to protect.
"We pay tribute to the AMISOM troops who have made the ultimate sacrifice in pursuit of a more peaceful and prosperous future for Somalia," the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG) Michael Keating said in a statement issued in Mogadishu.
"We reaffirm our solidarity in particular with the people and government of Uganda as they mourn the loss of their compatriots. We wish a full and speedy recovery to the soldiers who sustained injuries during the attack," Keating said.
Al-Shabaab militants claimed responsibility for the attack on the troops, who were conducting a joint patrol with Somali National Army soldiers.
A spokesman for the Uganda People's Defence Forces issued a statement earlier Monday announcing the launch of an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident which, according to the spokesman, killed 12 soldiers and wounded another seven.
The U.S. also condemned the attack on the Ugandan soldiers near Goleweyn, Lower Shabelle and joins the expressions of outrage in Somalia and throughout the region against this atrocious act.
"The United States reaffirms our commitment to support the efforts of AMISOM, which is working with the Federal Government of Somalia, to build a secure, peaceful, and prosperous country," Washington said in a statement issued by its Somalia embassy.
