India, April 26 -- Gunmen attacked several locations in Mali's capital and other cities early on Saturday in a possible coordinated assault, residents and authorities said.

Mali's army said in a statement, "unidentified armed terrorist groups targeted certain locations and barracks in the capital." It added that soldiers were "currently engaged in eliminating the attackers."

Mali has been plagued by insurgencies fought by affiliates of al-Qaida and the Islamic State group, as well as a separatist rebellion in the north. An Associated Press journalist in Bamako heard sustained heavy weapons and automatic rifle gunfire coming from Modibo Keita International Airport, around 15 kilometres (9 miles) from the city centre, and saw a helicopter...