Mali mine blast kills four UN peacekeepers

Bamako, Sep 3: Four United Nations peacekeepers were killed and 15 others injured after their vehicle hit a landmine in Mali Tuesday, security sources said.

The UN vehicle was hit by a landmine when the peacekeepers were leaving the country's northern city of Aguelhok, where they had accomplished peacekeeping missions, Xinhua quoted Malian army spokesperson Olivier Salgado as saying.

The spokesperson said all the dead and injured were from Chad, adding that six of the injured were in critical condition.

The northern region of Mali has served as the stronghold of the rebels since the country's military coup in March 2012.

The security situation in the region worsened after Malian Prime Minister Moussa Mara's visit to the northern city of Kidal in May, which triggered conflicts between local armed forces and the military.

IANS