Mali: junta struggles to fight growing violence in a northern region as UN peacekeepers withdraw

BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — Attacks in northern Mali have more than doubled since U.N. peacekeepers completed the first phase of their withdrawal last month after a decade of fighting Islamic extremists, resulting in more than 150 deaths.

In one brazen attack, militants targeted a triple-decker passenger boat, killing 49 civilians. And this week, another group o…