Wounded SA soldiers stable in Goma

13 November 2012 - 18:21 By Sapa
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Soldiers of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the DR Congo (MONUSCO) patrol in Goma, eastern DR Congo, on October 16, 2012. File photo.
Soldiers of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the DR Congo (MONUSCO) patrol in Goma, eastern DR Congo, on October 16, 2012. File photo.
Image: AFP PHOTO / JUNIOR D.KANNAH

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.

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