Khmer Rouge kill UN peace-keepers

NEW YORK (Reuter) - The United Nations Security Council yesterday strongly condemned the shelling of UN peace-keepers in Cambodia in which two members of a Chinese engineering detachment were killed and seven wounded.

A statement also warned that the council would not countenance the use of violence to interfere with UN-organised elections in Cambodia due to begin today and continue until Friday.

The statement took note of a preliminary UN report that the latest attack was carried out by Khmer Rouge forces - the National Army of Democratic Kampuchea - and asked the UN Secretary-General, Boutros Boutros-Ghali, to investigate further and report back urgently.

The United Nations in Phnom Penh said the Chinese casualties were caused when Khmer Rouge guerrillas launched a raid on a government police station at Skoun, 50 miles north of the capital, late on Friday. A rocket passed over the police post and went through the window of the building occupied by the Chinese engineering detachment. The two slain peace-keepers were the first Chinese fatalities since the 22,000-strong UN Transitional Authority in Cambodia (Untac) was deployed 14 months ago. A total of 16 UN personnel have now been killed this year.

Alluding to a 1991 peace accord under which the elections for a constituent assembly are being held, the council said it would 'respond appropriately should any of the parties fail to honour its obligations' and that it 'will not countenance the use of violence to interfere with or overturn the democratic process in Cambodia'. The Khmer Rouge have refused to abide by the peace plan and vowed to disrupt the voting.