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UN troops killed in Mali's Tessalit town UN troops from Chad killed in Mali's Tessalit town
(about 5 hours later)
At least two UN peacekeepers have been killed and six others wounded in a suicide attack in northern Mali, UN spokesman Olivier Salgado has said. Two UN peacekeepers from Chad have been killed and six others wounded - some "severely" - in a suicide attack in northern Mali, the UN has said.
A bomber drove an explosives-laden vehicle to the checkpoint in Tessalit town before blowing himself up, he added. Civilians also died when a bomber drove an explosives-laden vehicle to the checkpoint in Tessalit before blowing himself up, the statement said.
A local official told Reuters news agency that two civilians, including a baby, had also been killed. One child was killed and another injured, Reuters quoted Mali government officials as saying.
The UN has nearly 6,000 troops in Mali to tackle militant Islamists.The UN has nearly 6,000 troops in Mali to tackle militant Islamists.
Its special representative to Mali, Bert Koenders, earlier this month called for more troops to be deployed following an upsurge in bombings and rocket attacks. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the attack "will not affect the determination of the United Nations to support the restoration of security, stability and lasting peace in Mali".
The UN Security Council condemned the attack "in the strongest terms".
It expressed condolences to the families of the peacekeepers killed, as well as to the governments of Mali and Chad.
The Security Council said those responsible would be held accountable and it called Mali "to swiftly investigate... and bring the perpetrators to justice".
Mali's defence ministry said four bombers took part in the raid and all died, Reuters reported.
The UN's special representative to Mali, Bert Koenders, earlier this month called for more troops to be deployed following an upsurge in bombings and rocket attacks.
French troops captured northern Mali's key cities and towns from the militants after launching an operation to oust them in January.French troops captured northern Mali's key cities and towns from the militants after launching an operation to oust them in January.
It handed security responsibility to the UN force in July.It handed security responsibility to the UN force in July.
The force, known as Minusma, has less than half of its mandated strength of more than 12,000 military personnel.The force, known as Minusma, has less than half of its mandated strength of more than 12,000 military personnel.
The two peacekeepers who were killed in the attack were from Chad, Mr Salgado said.
"The provisional toll is two dead and six injured," he added.
A government official in Tessalit, Cheick Fantamady Bouare, said four people had been killed in total, including a child, Reuters reports.