At least six people were killed Tuesday in the Timbuktu region of northern Mali in an attack blamed on Islamist fighters, said local and security sources as well as the UN.

"At least six civilians are dead, burned or killed by gunfire, after an attack by Islamists" near Gossi, southeast of Timbuktu, said a local source. The report was confirmed by a security source, who also set the toll at six civilians, while a UN mission source said "more than six" people had died.