At least seven killed in Mali

At least seven people died Monday in two attacks in Mali, as the prime minister cancelled a visit to a central town after a vehicle sent to protect his team hit a landmine. A bus travelling in the restive north was blown by a mine on Monday, killing at least four people, police and administrative officials told AFP. "A bus hit a mine near Ansongo," a small town about 100 kilometres (60 miles) from Gao," the regional hub, a Malian military officer in the area said by phone.