Mali defence minister killed as country hit by wave of rebel attacks

Mali's defence minister has been killed in an apparent suicide truck bombing on his residence near the capital Bamako. Multiple news outlets reported the death of Sadio Camara, part of a wave of coordinated attacks by jihadist militants and separatists carried out across the country. State TV confirmed the death several hours later, saying he died...

Mali's defence minister has been killed in an apparent suicide truck bombing on his residence near the capital Bamako.

Multiple news outlets reported the death of Sadio Camara, part of a wave of coordinated attacks by jihadist militants and separatists carried out across the country.

State TV confirmed the death several hours later, saying he died of wounds received while engaging with the attackers. Reports say the head of the military junta, Gen Assimi Goita, was moved to a safe location after his home was targeted.

Further north Russian mercenaries hired by Mali's military agreed to withdraw from Kidal after two days of clashes, the separatist Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) group said.