Human Rights Watch has called for the Malian security forces and UN peacekeepers to offer more protection in the north of the country following dozens of attacks by Islamist militant groups.

It says tens of thousands of people have been displaced over the last eight months in the Ménaka and Gao regions.

Witnesses described a pattern of heavily armed men on motorbikes and in other vehicles surrounding villages, shooting indiscriminately and summarily executing men.

Community leaders say nearly 1,000 people have been killed.

The rights group says fighters linked to the Islamic State group had mainly targeted Tuareg communities that they saw as loyal to former rebel groups now allied to the Malian government.

Source: BBC