Attack on Mali military post kills 53 soldiers
Fifty-three soldiers were killed Friday in a
"terrorist attack" on a Mali military post in the northeast of the
country, France 24 reported, quoting the government as saying.
A civilian was also killed at the outpost in
Indelimane, in the Menaka region, close to the border with Niger, the country's
communication minister Yaya Sangare said on Twitter.
"The situation is under control. A search and
the process of identifying the bodies is continuing," he added, after
giving the latest update on the death toll.
He said 10 survivors were found at the outpost,
which suffered "significant" damage.
The Malian government earlier condemned the
"terrorist attack," saying it had left numerous dead or wounded but
without giving a precise toll.
"Reinforcements have been dispatched to secure
the area and hunt down the attackers," according to a statement by the
government.
No group immediately claimed responsibility for
Friday's assault.
It comes a month after two assaults killed 40
soldiers near the border with Burkina Faso.
