Phnom Penh, Oct 22 (IANS): Cambodia Wednesday sent its first batch of 216 military personnel to join a UN peacekeeping operation in the Central African Republic (CAR).

The peacekeepers will conduct their one-year mission in Bria town, about 600 km east of CAR's capital city of Bangui, Xinhua reported.

They would work in de-mining, constructing roads, bridges and barracks, and digging wells, said Defence Minister General Tea Banh at the departure ceremony held at the Military Airbase in Phnom Penh.

"Our mission is to join the other UN peacekeepers to stabilise the situation in the CAR," he added.

He added that the Cambodian government showed their strong commitment to the building of global peace by sending troops to join the UN peacekeeping mission in war-torn countries.

The minister advised the troops to strictly abide by international laws so as to maintain the discipline and dignity of the Cambodian Royal Armed Forces.

"Our peacekeepers must avoid any activity that can negatively affect the standards of living, tradition and customs, and dignity of the host country," he said.

A civil war in CAR broke out in December 2012 between Muslim Seleka rebels and the government forces.

Seleka rebels took power from the then president Francois Bozize in March 2013 and the rebels' leader Michel Djotodia declared himself as president.

Thousands of people are believed to have been killed in CAR and about 2.2 million people need humanitarian aid.