Armed groups from northern Mali on Tuesday claimed they captured the key town of Bourem, located between Gao and Timbuktu, before pulling out of the town, fuelling fears of the collapse of a peace deal between the ex-rebels and government forces.
In a statement released on Tuesday evening, the Malian military said it had repelled an attack involving car bombs that left 10 soldiers dead and 13 injured, while 46 "terrorists" were killed.
