The United Nations on Wednesday expressed concern over continuing violence against ethnic Tuaregs and Arabs in Mali, citing evidence of new rights abuses against the two communities. UN Under Secretary for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman said that while "arbitrary acts of violence" against Tuaregs and Arabs had recently slowed, "there is still a risk of reprisal against members of these communities." "Worryingly, it appears from reports that new patterns of human rights violations have emerged, including retaliatory attacks based on ethnicity," Feltman added.

At least three Islamists were killed in Timbuktu on Monday during a sweep by French and Malian soldiers in the northern city after a deadly weekend battle, a military source said. "During our clean-up operation, the Mali and French armies destroyed a public building in the centre of town where the terrorists were hiding. We have found the bodies of three terrorists," the Malian military source told AFP. sd/cs/txw/fb

Malian troops backed by French forces on Sunday clashed with Islamist fighters who had infiltrated the northern city of Timbuktu, leaving two jihadists dead and four Malian soldiers wounded, an army officer said. "Jihadists have infiltrated the centre of Timbuktu... Our men are currently fighting them with the support of a unit of our French partners," the Malian officer told AFP by telephone. "Two jihadists have been killed and four Malian soldiers have been injured. That's the provisional toll," the officer said, adding the fighting "is not yet over".

Two jihadists were killed and four Malian troops were wounded in clashes that erupted in the fabled northern city of Timbuktu on Sunday, a Malian army officer said. "Two jihadists have been killed and four Malian soldiers have been injured," the Malian army officer told AFP, adding that the soldiers were supported by French troops and that fighting was ongoing. sd-cs/ln/boc