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French air attack in Mali killed 19 unarmed civilians, UN says
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French air attack in Mali killed 19 unarmed civilians, UN says

Probe concludes air raid hit wedding celebration with 100 civilians, contradicting French claims it targeted rebels.

International

UN probe concludes French air attack hit a wedding celebration with 100 civilians at the site of the air raid, contradicting French military claims it targeted ‘terrorists’.

A French air attack January killed at least 19 civilians at a wedding party in central Mali, United Nations investigators have said, confirming locals’ accounts and contradicting France’s version that only rebel fighters were hit.

The human rights division of the United Nations mission in Mali (MINUSMA) said on Tuesday it had visited the village of Bounti where the attack took place on January 3, analysed satellite images and interviewed more than 400 people, including at least 115 in face-to-face, individual sessions.

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“MINUSMA is able to confirm that a wedding celebration was held that brought together about 100 civilians at the site of the strike,” the report, released on Tuesday said.

It said 19 people, including 16 civilians and three armed men who were attending the wedding, were killed immediately in the air attack, while three more civilians died while being transferred to medical care.

“There were five armed individuals among them [wedding party], presumed members of Katiba Serma,” the MINUSMA report said, referring to an armed group affiliated with al-Qaeda.

The findings constitute a rare criticism of the actions of French forces in Mali.

“The group affected by the strike was overwhelmingly composed of civilians who are protected persons under international humanitarian law,” the report said.

“This strike raises serious concerns about respect for the principles of the conduct of hostilities,” it added.