Suspected jihadists are behind an attack Sunday on a tourist resort popular with Westerners on the edge of the Malian capital Bamako, a security ministry official told AFP.

"There is an attack by presumed jihadists on the Kangaba camp," he said, confirming that Malian special forces, backed up by French and UN soldiers, "have sealed off the area and are in the process of organising operations" against the attackers, the official said, requesting anonymity.