Mali's government

Niger has announced the immediate severance of diplomatic relations with Ukraine, citing Kyiv's alleged support for "terrorist groups" in Mali. This decision follows Mali's similar move earlier this week, which was also based on accusations of Ukrainian involvement in recent terrorist activities in the West African nation.

Mali's government said that armed men attacked a central village, killing 37 civilians, in what appeared to be ethnic violence.

The United Nations Security Council has strongly condemned an attack in Bamako that killed five people on Saturday.

The machine-gun and grenade attack in Mali's capital left a French citizen, a Belgian security officer and three Malians dead and nine others wounded, international newswires quoted witnesses as saying.