<div><span style="font-size: 1rem;">Three United Nations peacekeepers and at least 12 civilians were killed during a second day of anti-U.N. protests in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on Tuesday, authorities said.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>The protests were spurred by complaints that the U.N. mission, known as MONUSCO, has failed to protect civilians against militia violence which has raged for years.</div><div><br></div><div>U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the violence, deputy U.N. spokesperson Farhan Haq said in a statement, adding, “He underscores that any attack directed against United Nations peacekeepers may constitute a war crime and calls upon the Congolese authorities to investigate these incidents and swiftly bring those responsible to justice.”</div><div><br></div><div>Demonstrations began on Monday in the city of Goma and spread on Tuesday to Butembo, where a U.N. soldier and two U.N. police with the mission were shot dead, Haq told reporters in New York.</div><div><br></div><div>In both cities U.N. peacekeeping troops were accused of retaliating with force as hundreds of protesters threw rocks and petrol bombs, vandalized and set fire to U.N. buildings.</div><div><br></div><div>A Reuters reporter saw U.N. peacekeepers shoot dead two protesters in Goma, where government spokesman Patrick Muyaya said at least five people were killed and 50 wounded.</div><div><br></div><div>In Butembo at least seven civilians were killed and an unknown number wounded, said the city’s police chief Paul Ngoma.</div><div><br></div><div>U.N. peacekeeping missions have been beset by accusations of abuse for years.</div><div><br></div><div>“Obviously if there’s any responsibility by U.N. forces for any of the injuries, or any of the deaths, we will follow up on that,” Haq said. - Reuters&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div><b>bnbd24/fas</b></div>