India, April 28 -- Mali's defence minister was killed in a sweeping attack by jihadis and rebels who seized several towns and military bases, authorities said, the latest violence in the junta-run country that has long battled militants linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group as well as a separatist rebellion in the north.

The Malian Government confirmed the death of the defence chief, General Sadio Camara, in a post on the defence ministry's Facebook page, and expressed its condolences to his family.

State-run television also broadcast the announcement of his death by spokesman General Issa Ousmane Coulibaly.

Mali was struck on Saturday by one of the biggest coordinated attacks on its army in the capital, Bamako, and several ot...