Officials in Mali say 11 jihadists have been killed in the centre of the country when they tried to ambush soldiers.

A defence ministry statement said Sunday's attack, in the Soumouni forest in Segou region, left one Malian soldier dead.

Mali is due to hold elections next Sunday but there are fears the credibility of the poll could be undermined because of insecurity.

Tuareg militias supporting the Malian and French forces said more than 20 people were killed at Tindinbawen near the border with Niger on Friday - the latest in a string of attacks by the group calling itself Islamic State in the Greater Sahara.