(Adnkronos) – Italy’s government is “monitoring” the welfare of 60 Italian citizens in Mali after attacks across the country at the weekend launched by militants from Al-Qaeda’s regional affiliate and a Tuareg-dominated rebel group in which the defence minister Sadio Camara was killed in car bombing and subsequent firefight.
“I am in contact with our embassy to monitor the situation of our 60 compatriots living in Mali,” Tajani told journalists on the sidelines of an Italy-Mercosur business forum in Rome.
“I hope that the jihadist attacks can be contained and that the situation can be stabilised,” Tajani continued.
“We are monitoring events as they unfold, minute by minute,” Tajani added, noting: “we have condemned the attack that also led to the death of the defence minister”.
Mali’s defence minister, Sadio Camara, was killed in an attack on his residence in the garrison town of Kati on Sunday, the country’s junta-run government said.
Mali has been left reeling from the attacks by insurgents, who sezed several town and military bases and reportedly also killed the country’s military intelligence chief, Modibo Kone.
Mali’s authorities said on Sunday the insurgent assault was over and that Malian forces had “neutralised” more than 200 terrorists across the country and recovered ammunition.
