Militants killed 21 Malian soldiers in a raid on an army camp in central Mali, military sources said, after a dawn attack that the armed forces believe was led by a deserter, - AFP reports.

Driving cars and motorbikes, the attackers stormed Dioura army camp in the Mopti region.

The attack was carried out "by terrorist groups under the command of Ba Ag Moussa, a deserter army colonel", according to the Malian armed forces.