UPDATE - 6 Bangladeshi peacekeepers killed in drone attack on UN base in southern Sudan

UPDATES WITH STATEMENT FROM HEAD OF BANGLADESH’S INTERIM GOVERNMENT; REVISES HEADLINE, DECK, LEDE

By SM Najmus Sakib

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AA) – Six Bangladeshi peacekeepers were killed and eight others injured in "a drone attack by terrorists” on a UN base in Abyei, southern Sudan, the head of Bangladesh’s interim government said on Saturday.

In a statement, Muhammad Yunus expressed shock over the incident and said: “The United Nations has already been requested to take urgent measures to ensure the highest level of medical treatment and necessary assistance to the injured peacekeepers.”

Earlier, in a statement on US social media platform Facebook, the army said that the incident took place in Abyei and the fighting was still ongoing.

There was no immediate comment from the UN mission.

The United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) peacekeeping mission was deployed in 2011.

The oil-rich Abyei Administrative Area is administered by South Sudan and Sudan, with both claiming stakes and having been embroiled in conflict for years.

The mission mandate was renewed last month.