UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 18 (UPI) -- The United Nations condemned Friday's attack by M23 rebels on an unarmed helicopter of the U.N. peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The attack, the second in a week, occurred when the helicopter came under fire from M23-held positions in North Kivu province, the U.N. Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC said in a release.
U.N. spokesman Martin Nesirky said in New York no injuries were reported and the helicopter wasn't damaged.
Martin Kobler, the secretary-general's special representative and MONUSCO leader and special envoy, Mary Robinson were in Kampala, Uganda, to observe the talks between the Congolese government and the M23 rebels.
U.N. officials said the mission "believes that nothing should distract or disturb a successful outcome of the Kampala talks."
In the other incident, an unarmed U.N. helicopter on a reconnaissance mission came under direct fire from positions held by the M23 in the Rumangabo region.
"M23 rebels will not prevent us from using the Congolese air space," Kobler said. "We shall continue doing all in our power to defend civilian populations including by using force if necessary."
