Around the World: Malaysia

Peacekeepers to return

Malaysia will withdraw its peacekeepers from the southern Philippine region of Mindanao in September, the government said yesterday, dealing a blow to multinational efforts to secure peace in the troubled region.

Unarmed Malaysian soldiers have been in Mindanao since 2004 as part of an effort to end nearly 40 years of conflict that has killed more than 120,000 people. Libya and Brunei also have small contingents in the monitoring team.