UNITED NATIONS, March 7 (Xinhua) -- An attack on a UN helicopter on Friday in South Sudan killed a crewmember and several South Sudanese military personnel, including a general, a UN spokesman said.

 

"Several members of the South Sudanese military forces, including an injured general, were also killed in the attack," said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

 

The mission was being carried out on the request of the signatory parties of the revitalized peace agreement to evacuate members of the South Sudan People's Defense Forces (SSPDF), he said.

 

The attack occurred in Nasir, Upper Nile State, following renewed clashes between the SSPDF and armed youth.

 

"We deeply regret the tragic loss of life of our colleague and wish a speedy recovery to those wounded," he said. "We also regret the killing of those that we were attempting to evacuate."

 

The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said in a statement that the evacuation was part of an effort to help prevent violence in Nasir and de-escalate political tensions following recent clashes between the South Sudan military and armed youth.

 

"The attack on UNMISS personnel is utterly abhorrent and may constitute a war crime under international law," said Nicholas Haysom, the special representative of the UN secretary-general in Sudan and head of UNMISS, urging an investigation to determine those responsible and hold them accountable.