Militants hit villages

BAMAKO: Unidentified armed men massacred more than 30 civilians in attacks on Mali villages last week, then killed nine soldiers responding to the assault as violence surges in the country’s conflictwracked centre.

An Islamist insurgency that erupted in the north of the vast West African country in 2012 has swept to its centre, inflaming ethnic tensions.

Clashes between the ethnic communities of Fulani, nomadic herders, and Dogon traditional hunters have increased in recent months, with community-based militias initially formed for defence now launching attacks.

Armed uniformed men attacked four Dogon villages on Wednesday, leaving at least 30 dead and some missing.