Suicide bomber kills 3, wounds 16 in attack on UN peacekeeper base in northern Mali

BAMAKO, Mali – The U.N. mission in Mali says a suicide bomber has attacked a peacekeeping base, killing at least three people.

In a statement released Wednesday, the U.N. mission known as MINUSMA said that the attack had taken place around 11:30 a.m. in the town of Ansongo in Mali's northern Gao region.

At least nine peacekeepers were wounded along with seven civilians.

The renewed violence came Wednesday as peace talks began in Algeria between the Malian government and various armed groups who are active in northern Mali.

According to Human Rights Watch, at least 35 peacekeepers have been killed and more than 130 wounded since the U.N. mission began in July 2013.