Soldier opens fire on comrades
2005-05-20 12:07
Pretoria - A South African peacekeeping soldier shot dead a comrade and wounded four others before killing himself in Burundi on Friday, the SA National Defence Force said.
"Two SANDF soldiers died and four other SANDF soldiers were wounded during a shooting in Burundi earlier this morning when a member of the SANDF allegedly opened fire on his comrades at the Palace Base in Bujumbura, before apparently turning the weapon on himself," a statement said.
"The reason for the shooting incident is unclear at this stage and the United Nations (UN) and the SANDF are investigating the incident."
The four injured soldiers were admitted to the UN's Pakistani Hospital in Bujumbura. Their conditions were not known, said SANDF spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Louis Kirstein.
"The Minister of Defence, Mosiuoa Lekota, expressed shock at the incident and extended his sincerest sympathies and condolences to the families and friends of the killed and wounded soldiers," the statement said.
The sentiments were echoed by SANDF chief General Siphiwe Nyanda and secretary for defence January Masilela.
The names of the dead and injured would be made public once their next-of-kin had been informed.
- SAPA