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Mali mortar attack kills three UN peacekeepers in Kidal | Mali mortar attack kills three UN peacekeepers in Kidal |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Five UN peacekeepers have been killed in a mortar attack on their base in Kidal in northern Mali. | |
Thirty others were injured in the raid, which involved rockets and a truck bomb. | Thirty others were injured in the raid, which involved rockets and a truck bomb. |
A local militia that signed a peace deal with the government last year blamed Islamist militants for the attack, Reuters news agency reports. | A local militia that signed a peace deal with the government last year blamed Islamist militants for the attack, Reuters news agency reports. |
The UN is trying to restore peace to the north, which was overrun in 2012 by jihadists and ethnic Tuareg groups. | The UN is trying to restore peace to the north, which was overrun in 2012 by jihadists and ethnic Tuareg groups. |
The al-Qaeda-linked insurgents, who fell out with Tuareg separatists, were ousted from northern towns by a French led-force in 2013. | The al-Qaeda-linked insurgents, who fell out with Tuareg separatists, were ousted from northern towns by a French led-force in 2013. |
Last June, Tuareg-led rebels and other Arab groups seeking more autonomy for the north signed a ceasefire agreement with the government. | Last June, Tuareg-led rebels and other Arab groups seeking more autonomy for the north signed a ceasefire agreement with the government. |
UN chief Ban Ki-moon says attacks on peacekeepers "constitute a war crime," and will not deter them from supporting the Malian government. | |
Three of those killed were from Guinea. The nationalities of the other dead and wounded have not been revealed. | |
The attack in Kidal comes 48 hours after the UN representative in the country, Mahamat Saleh Annadif, visited the area. | The attack in Kidal comes 48 hours after the UN representative in the country, Mahamat Saleh Annadif, visited the area. |
It is the latest in a series of attacks on the UN force, made up of 10,000 soldiers from dozens of different contributor countries - the majority from Mali's West African neighbours. | It is the latest in a series of attacks on the UN force, made up of 10,000 soldiers from dozens of different contributor countries - the majority from Mali's West African neighbours. |
"This serious act reflects the disarray of the enemies of peace since it comes at a time when the implementation of the peace agreement increasingly becomes a reality in Mali," Mr Annadif said in a statement. | "This serious act reflects the disarray of the enemies of peace since it comes at a time when the implementation of the peace agreement increasingly becomes a reality in Mali," Mr Annadif said in a statement. |
In a separate incident, three Malian soldiers were killed in an ambush on a military convoy near Timbuktu. It is not clear who is behind the attack. | In a separate incident, three Malian soldiers were killed in an ambush on a military convoy near Timbuktu. It is not clear who is behind the attack. |
Militancy in Mali | Militancy in Mali |