French planes destroy Islamist bases in Mali

MALI: French warplanes have destroyed two Islamist bases in northern Mali as an Al-Qaeda-linked group there split, with the splinter group calling for talks to end the offensive against the militants.

There were also fresh reports of Malian troops carrying out summary executions, with one rights group saying at least 31 people had been killed in the central town of Sevare and some bodies dumped in wells.

Bombing raids overnight targeted Ansongo, about 80 kilometres (50 miles) from the town of Gao, and extremist bases in the nearby village of the Seyna Sonrai, a Malian military source said Thursday on condition of anonymity.

AFP