2 Cambodian peacekeepers injured in landmine blast in Mali

Two Cambodian peacekeepers got wounded on Saturday when their armored vehicle triggered a landmine in the conflict-torn West African nation of Mali, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said.

"This moment, I just got a report from Mali that a Cambodian peacekeepers' armored vehicle hit a landmine, leaving two persons slightly injured," he said in a speech during a gala dinner with Cambodian business people Saturday night.

"On behalf of the government and on my own and wife, I'd like to send my regard to all Cambodian peacekeepers abroad, especially the two injured peacekeepers," he said.

Cambodia sent more than 300 troops to Mali in February 2014 to join a United Nation s peacekeeping mission. In June last year, two of the peacekeepers died there due to food poisoning.

Mali was plunged into turmoil after a March 2012 coup that led to an Islamic rebel takeover of large swathes of the country and France launched a military operation in January 2013 to oust them.