At least three UN peacekeepers were killed Sunday when their vehicle hit an explosive device in Mali's troubled north.
Photo from video
The UN's mission to the conflict-torn country, MINUSMA, said the attack, which left another five soldiers seriously wounded, took place early Sunday on a road between the city of Gao and a village called Anefis.
In a separate statement, the Bangladeshi armed forces said three of its soldiers had been killed and another four wounded when their vehicle hit the explosive device.
"A mine hit our peacekeepers," said MINUSMA force commander Jean-Paul Deconinck.
In a statement, a spokesman for UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said the world body condemned the attack and conveyed his condolences to Bangladesh and to the bereaved families.
The statement stressed UN determination to bring lasting peace and security to Mali by expediting the implementation of the peace agreement to isolate all groups bent on constructing the peace and reconciliation process.
Deputy UN mission head Koen Davidse condemned the attack but underlined its determination to support the Bamako government in its efforts to make a fragile 2015 peace deal a reality.
The blast came a day after Bangladeshi peacekeepers successfully fended off another attack, their contingent said.
