DHAKA, Feb 27: Bangladesh announced on Sunday it would accord full state and military honours to nine of its soldiers who were killed while on peacekeeping duties in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

On Friday an unidentified group attacked the Bangladesh peacekeepers' convoy in the north eastern region of Ituri, killing nine men and injuring 11 others as well as an interpreter.

"Prime Minister Khaleda Zia will receive the bodies of the slain soldiers once they arrive at Zia International Airport at 9pm Monday," a military spokesman said.

The heads of the country's three armed forces will be present along with members of the cabinet. The funeral will be held on Tuesday morning with President Iajuddin Ahmed attending the final prayers, he added.

The bodies were flown to Entebbe airport in the Ugandan capital Kinshasa from where they will make their final journey back home on Monday morning. After the funeral, the soldiers will be buried with full honours in their home villages according to the wishes of family members, the spokesman said. -AFP