Mali army 'attacks al-Qaeda base'
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Mali's security forces have attacked a suspected al-Qaeda base in the Sahara Desert near the Algerian border.
At least 12 militants were killed, the authorities say, but they have not confirmed reports that five soldiers were killed by land mines.
The al-Qaeda group earlier this month killed a British hostage it had been holding for five months.
Last week, a senior Malian intelligence officer who was investigating the group was shot dead in Timbuktu.
Lt Col Lamana Ould Cheikh was believed to have been behind the recent arrest of three alleged militants.
One of his colleagues reportedly said his assassination was "an act of war".
Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb is believed to operate in the Sahara Desert between Algeria, Mali and Niger.
It grew out of Algerian Islamist groups which have been battling the government for almost two decades.
Mali's government believes that Algerian militant Abdelhamid Abou Zeid, listed by the UN as a known al-Qaeda member, was responsible for the death of the British hostage Edwin Dyer.
Mr Dyer was kidnapped in Niger in January, but was being held in Mali.
The al-Qaeda cell is believed to still be holding a Swiss national, Werner Greiner, captured alongside Mr Dyer.