6 civilians killed in Mali explosion

Six civilians were killed on Friday by an improvised explosive device (IED) near Boura, Mali's southern region of Sikasso, a local security source confirmed Saturday to Xinhua.

According to the officer, who request condition of anonymity out of fear of being revenged, an ambulance carrying a patient from Boura hit an IED on Friday, killing six people on board, except the driver who "was severely injured and evacuated to Koutiala (south)".

Among the victims, there was a pregnant woman and a 2-year-old kid, he said.

This is the first attack on civilians since the mutiny that led to the resignation of Mali's president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.

Also on Friday afternoon, about 10 km away from Boura, local authorities found the bodies of the two local staff of environment ministry who were kidnapped by unknow armed men on Thursday night, said the officer.

The Malian army has been targeted four times, killing at least 21 soldiers with numerous injuries.

No individual or group has claimed responsibility for these attacks amid political instability in Mali.