Three UN Peacekeepers dead as Helicopter Crashes in UN Compound in Abyei

An investigation has been opened into a helicopter crash that led to the death of three UN peacekeepers in Abyei. 

The Ethiopian military helicopter was transporting forces of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), from Kadugli in Sudan to Abyei, when it crashed inside the compound of the U.N. peacekeeping mission on Saturday morning.

A total of 23 passengers were on board the chopper at the time of the accident.  Ten passengers were injured, three in critical condition.

Ethiopia is the only troop contributor to the U.N. mission, with some 4,500 personnel on the ground.

Spokesperson for the UNISFA mission Daniel Adekera says a team of independent investigators is expected in Abyei to establish the cause of the accident. 

Mr. Adekera spoke to Radio Miraya's Abraham Malek in this interview.