Five United Nations peacekeepers from Chad were killed on Thursday when their truck drove over a mine in rebel-infested north-eastern Mali, a Chadian military source told AFP. "We lost five comrades today in the north towards Aguelhok. Their vehicle hit an explosive device. It's terrible," said the officer, who added that four Chadian soldiers were wounded.
The Malian army confirmed the deaths, condemning "a new provocation by terrorists" which it said had taken place as a ceremony in memory of soldiers killed by mines was underway in Aguelhok, 150 kilometres (90 miles) south of the Algerian border, in the restive Kidal region.