Officials in Mali say more than 40 people have been killed by suspected jihadists in the north of the country.
Militants on motorbikes attacked three villages, killing as many people as they could.
In neighboring Burkina Faso at least 12 soldiers were killed in a suspected Islamist attack near the border with Mali.
Security sources said they believed the attack was in revenge for the killing by the military of two senior jihadist leaders on Saturday.
Islamist violence is intensifying across the Sahel despite the presence of local, regional and international forces.
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SOURCE: BBCNEWS
