U.N. mission

The shootout killed nine people plus three attackers, in a rare attack far from the jihadists' northern strongholds, Mali's defense ministry adviser said.

The four rescued U.N. employees were two South Africans, a Russian and Ukraine, said U.N. mission in Mali spokeswoman Radhia Achouri.

The U.N. mission to Iraq said that at least 844 civilians were among the dead, while 488 members of Iraqi security forces and pro-government militias fighting the Islamic State group were killed.

It put the number of the wounded at 2,108. Baghdad was the worst affected province with 335 people killed.