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.

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

A Malian soldier died in Timbuktu's first suicide bombing as the city came under assault overnight, triggering clashes in which 10 Islamist fighters died, military officials said Thursday. The bomb went off near the ancient city's airport as a group of armed men clashed with French and Malian soldiers, in an incident that cast doubt on suggestions the Islamist resistance in Mali is close to being quashed.

France says 10 Islamists killed in overnight Timbuktu clashes dch/am/lc