Two EU staff killed in Mali attack by suspected jihadists

Two civilians killed in an assault this weekend on a popular tourist resort near the Mali capital, Bamako, worked for the European Union, the bloc's foreign affairs chief said today.

Five suspected jihadists have been placed in custody while four attackers were killed at the scene, Security Minister Salif Traore told AFP.

He said 36 mostly French and Malian hostages were freed following the incident at the Kangaba Le Campement resort yesterday afternoon.

Speaking in Luxembourg, EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini said the two EU staff victims were a Malian woman and a Portuguese man.

Around 20 members of Mali's special forces remained at the ecolodge today, Traore added, continuing investigations at a destination known for its popularity with expatriates on weekends.

Among them were members of the European Union's army training mission in Mali, and of MINUSMA, the United Nations peacekeeping force in the country, which sped up the deployment of Malian and French special forces when shooting began, according to witnesses.

Some of the assailants had shouted "Allahu Akbar" - Arabic for 'God is greatest' - other witnesses interviewed by

(This article has not been edited by DNA's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)