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France condemns crimes against children, civilians in South Sudan

PARIS, July 1 (KUNA) - France on Wednesday condemned a series of atrocities carried out by armed groups against women and children in South Sudan, following on earlier reports of massacres of children and youths there. "This (latest) report details the murder of 67 civilians and the fate of 251 women who were kidnapped, raped, killed or burned alive in Unity State alone," the French statement said, warning that the actual toll is probably much higher.
" These are particularly grave acts that could be considered war crimes and crimes against humanity and which must not remain unpunished," the Foreign Ministry said here.
France says it wants the UN Human Rights Council to take up the case of South Sudan and these atrocities and it "calls upon the Security Council once again to promptly adopt sanctions against those who are standing in the way of peace, among other things, by leading attacks against civilians, particularly women and children." The French statement said that it had just received more information reported by the United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNIMISS). (End) jk.ajs