UN Investigating Deaths of 14 Tanzanian Peacekeepers in Congo

  UNITED NATIONS (AP) - The U.N. is launching an investigation into attacks on peacekeepers in a part of Congo where the deadliest single assault on a U.N. peacekeeping mission in almost 25 years unfolded last month.

   Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced Friday he's appointing longtime U.N. peacekeeping official Dmitry Titov to lead a special investigation into attacks around the town of Beni.

   The probe will focus on the Dec. 7 rebel attack that killed 15 peacekeepers and wounded over 40 others at a base near Beni. The dead were Tanzanian.

   The attack has been blamed on the Allied Democratic Forces, one of various armed groups in the mineral-rich region.

   The U.N. peacekeeping mission in Congo is the world's largest. The investigation will evaluate its preparedness and response to attacks and provide recommendations on preventing them.

In December, at an emotional ceremony held to commemorate the dead, the prime minister, Kassim Majaliwa said Tanzanians want to know what exactly happened and ‘ legal actions taken against those involved’.

‘‘The government of Tanzania is calling on the UN to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation for the spilled blood of Tanzanian soldiers, in order to know and justice be attained. It is our hope that will be done within the shortest time.’‘

Bodies of Murdered Peacekeepers returned to Tanzania for burial