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Stray Bullet Kills UN Staff Member in Cote D'ivoire

A stray bullet today killed a United Nations peacekeeping mission staff in Côte d'Ivoire.

The civilian staff member died on Thursday after being hit by a stray bullet.

Zahra Abidi, 33, was an information analyst at the UN Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI) in Abidjan, the country's commercial capital that has been the scene of intensified fighting between forces loyal to Laurent Gbagbo and those supporting Alassane Ouattara.

The two men have been locked in a battle for leadership of the West African nation after Mr. Gbagbo refused to step aside following his UN-certified defeat to Mr. Ouattara in November's presidential election run-off.

Ms. Abidi had worked at UNOCI's Joint Operation Centre since April 2009, prior to which the Swedish national served with the mission's Electoral Assistance Division.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, who is currently on an official visit to Kenya, extended his condolences to Ms. Abidi's family, adding that UNOCI will do everything it can to protect civilians and UN staff.

Source: United Nations