New York, April 7 -- With a deteriorating security situation in central and northern Mali, the UN peacekeeping chief told the Security Council on Tuesday that 'blue helmets', the Malian Defence and Security Forces, continue to suffer repeated attacks and significant losses, while some large towns "live under constant threat from armed groups".

The head of UN Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, recalled that on Friday, heavily armed terrorists had attacked a UN Stabilization Mission (MINUSMA) camp in the Kidal region, killing four Chadian peacekeepers and wounding 34 others.

He said the assault was a tragedy, and an "illustration of the bravery and determination of our peacekeepers to support the people of Mali", noting that the "dete...