Mali's defence minister has died after an attack on his house, as the army fought a second day of battles with jihadist fighters and separatist rebels near the capital Bamako and other cities.

The Malian military confirmed the attacks in a statement, saying the assailants “suffered immediate setback” and that many were “neutralised.”

Separatists in northern Mali said they joined Islamic militants in launching one of the biggest coordinated attacks on the Malian army in the capital and several other cities that left at least 16 wou

The fighting left 16 civilians and soldiers wounded and caused "limited material damage," the government said in a statement.

It was one of the largest coordinated attacks in Mali in recent years, as armed groups launched assaults across the capital, Bamako, and several other key locations. Government officials confirmed that at least 16 people were injured in the attacks, which targeted both civilian and military sites.

It was one of the largest coordinated attacks in Mali in recent years, as armed groups launched assaults across the capital, Bamako, and several other key locations. Government officials confirmed that at least 16 people were injured in the attacks, which targeted both civilian and military sites.

The United Nations called for an international response to violence and terrorism in the West African Sahel region following Saturday's large-scale assaults.

The military authority in Mali confirmed the attack in a statement, saying the terrorists “suffered immediate setback” and many of them were “neutralised.”

A spate of attacks was coordinated by Tuareg separatists and jihadis with links to al-Qaeda. Among them, a car bomb in Bamako killed Mali's defense minister.

Mali’s defence minister Sadio Camara has been killed in a car bomb attack on his home near Bamako, as the country faces a second day of intense fighting.

An al-Qaida affiliate and Tuareg rebels claimed responsibility on Saturday for coordinated attacks across Mali, in one of the boldest operations insurgents have mounted in their campaign against the military-led government. Mali's army ‌said it killed "several hundred" assailants and repelled the assault, which hit multiple sites in or near…

Mali’s Defence Minister General Sadio Camara has been killed amid coordinated attacks on military sites across the West African country, sources told Al

The army says its fighting what it described as “terrorists” that had attacked the main army barracks in Bamako and other areas.