71 soldiers killed in Niger base attack

At least 71 Nigerien soldiers have been killed in an attack on a military camp in the west of the country, according to the defence ministry.

In a televised statement, a ministry spokesman said "a substantial number of terrorists were neutralised" in Tuesday's attack which also left 12 military personnel wounded and others missing.

President Mahamadou Issoufou cut short a trip to Egypt to return home following the "tragedy" that took place at the base in Inates, near the border with Mali, the presidency said on Twitter.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, which is believed to be the deadliest against Niger's military in living memory. _Al-Jazeera

Dhaka/AKA