The United Nations has expressed concern that Mali has prevented its investigators from visiting a town where local troops and suspected Russian fighters allegedly killed hundreds of civilians.
According to a Human Rights Watch report at least 300 men are believed to have been summarily executed during a March 27-31 raid on Moura, a town of about 10,000 inhabitants infiltrated by Islamist militants,.
Survivors said white mercenaries suspected to be Russians took part in the massacre that sparked international uproar and prompted the U.N. to open an investigation.
Mali has denied the allegations, saying it had conducted a professional operation to attack insurgents in Moura, and that it would carry out its own assessment.
U.N. spokesperson Seif Magango said in a statement unconfirmed sources suggest the death toll could be as high as 500, mostly civilians, adding that time is of essence to ensure accountability and prompt, effective justice for victims.
The statement said Soldiers also reportedly raped, looted and arbitrarily detained a number of Moura’s inhabitants.
The United Nations mission in Mali said separately on Wednesday that it was concerned by reports of more human rights violations committed by the Malian army, accompanied by a group of foreign military during a weekly market in Hombori in northern Mali on Tuesday.
The mission said on Twitter that it has opened an investigation and plans to visit the scene soon.
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