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| Nine UN peacekeepers killed in ambush by gunmen on motorbikes in Mali | Nine UN peacekeepers killed in ambush by gunmen on motorbikes in Mali |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Nine United Nations peacekeepers have been killed after their convoy came under attack from heavily armed gunmen on motorbikes in Mali, it has been reported. | Nine United Nations peacekeepers have been killed after their convoy came under attack from heavily armed gunmen on motorbikes in Mali, it has been reported. |
| The ambush is the deadliest in a string of attacks on the mission tasked with bringing stability to the West African country following a coup and jihadist offensive. | |
| The peacekeepers, from Niger, came under attack in the region of Gao as the convoy of troops were travelling from Manaka to Asongo. | |
| Arnauld Akodjenou, deputy head of the U.N. mission, known as MINUSMA, said: "I am horrified by this cowardly act of terrorism ... Once again, lives have been lost today in the name of peace in Mali." | Arnauld Akodjenou, deputy head of the U.N. mission, known as MINUSMA, said: "I am horrified by this cowardly act of terrorism ... Once again, lives have been lost today in the name of peace in Mali." |
| A UN peacekeeping official said the attack brought the death toll for the operation to 30. | |
| UN peacekeepers have deployed across Mali's north in an effort to secure the vast desert zone that was occupied by a mix of al Qaeda-linked Islamists in 2012 until the insurgents were scattered by French forces last year. | UN peacekeepers have deployed across Mali's north in an effort to secure the vast desert zone that was occupied by a mix of al Qaeda-linked Islamists in 2012 until the insurgents were scattered by French forces last year. |
| The presence of international troops allowed Mali to hold elections last summer but France has since redeployed some of its forces elsewhere and there has been a spike in attacks by Islamists in recent months. | The presence of international troops allowed Mali to hold elections last summer but France has since redeployed some of its forces elsewhere and there has been a spike in attacks by Islamists in recent months. |
| Ten Chadian peacekeepers were killed in Mali last month, prompting accusations from Chad that its troops were being neglected by the UN mission. | Ten Chadian peacekeepers were killed in Mali last month, prompting accusations from Chad that its troops were being neglected by the UN mission. |
| In December last year, two UN peacekeepers were killed after a car bomb exploded in the Malian town of Kidal. | In December last year, two UN peacekeepers were killed after a car bomb exploded in the Malian town of Kidal. |
| The attack destroyed the Malian Solidarity Bank, the only operating bank in the town, and set fire to a UN armoured vehicle. | The attack destroyed the Malian Solidarity Bank, the only operating bank in the town, and set fire to a UN armoured vehicle. |
| Eye-witnesses said that a car packed with explosives parked in front of the bank, guarded by UN peacekeeping troops, before being detonated by a suicide bomber. | Eye-witnesses said that a car packed with explosives parked in front of the bank, guarded by UN peacekeeping troops, before being detonated by a suicide bomber. |
| The bank building collapsed after the explosion at around 0645 local time (GMT), prompting fears of more casualties inside. | The bank building collapsed after the explosion at around 0645 local time (GMT), prompting fears of more casualties inside. |
| Additional reporting by Reuters and AP |