3 killed in attack on customs post in central Mali

Mali's Defence Ministry and a witness say three people have been killed in the central Mopti region by armed men attacking a customs post.

Colonel Diarran Kone, spokesman for Mali's Defence Ministry, said yesterday that two civilians and a customs officer died in the attack in Hombori.

Mouaouloud Dao, a Hombori resident, said armed men in a 4x4 vehicle came early yesterday to the post and set fire to a car before leaving.

Three soldiers were killed in the same region Tuesday after driving over a land mine.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks.

The Mopti region is known to be a stronghold for the Macina Liberation Front, an Islamic extremist group that claimed responsibility for several attacks on the army last year.