Attack on UN mission

OFFICIALS say a UN peacekeeper is dead and 10 French soldiers have been wounded after a jihadist attack in northern Mali.

Residents in the town of Timbuktu reported hearing two large detonations on Saturday near a camp for the UN mission.

Ten soldiers from the French military operation known as Barkhane were among those hurt — five seriously, according to the Malian security ministry. There was no immediate claim of responsibility though a number of extremist groups are active in the region.