64 killed in Mali boat attacks

At least 64 people have been killed in attacks on an army base and a passenger boat on the Niger River in northern Mali.

The two separate attacks targeted the Timbuktu boat on the Niger river and an army position at Bamba, in the northern Gao region on Thursday.

A group affiliated to Al-Qaeda claimed this.

A provisional toll of 49 civilians and 15 soldiers were killed, according to a government statement. It did not specify how many died in each assault.