Moroccan, Zambian peacekeepers die in non-hostile deaths in Ivory Coast

The United Nations said Thursday that two members of its peacekeeping force in Ivory Coast died in non-hostile incidents in the war-divided nation.

The two included a Moroccan soldier who died in a vehicle accident and a Zambian military observer who died of an illness the U.N. did not name.

Moroccan Pvt. Daoud Farah, 28, died Tuesday after a traffic accident and his remains will be repatriated to Morocco on Friday, the U.N. said in a statement.

In a separate statement, the U.N. said Zambian Maj. David Luneta, 41, died Nov. 3 after a brief illness. Luneta was survived by his wife and five children. His body will be returned to Zambia Friday, the U.N. said.

The fatalities would bring to nine the number of deaths suffered among the 6,000-strong U.N. force in the west African nation.

About 4,000 French troops are also deployed in the country, many of them helping U.N. troops guard a buffer-zone after a 2002-2003 civil war, AP reported. V.A.