Mali

Professor Youssef Alaoui of the Ain Borja clinic in Casablanca, Morocco, told the AFP news agency that the case was "extremely rare" and "exceptional".

The mother, Halima Cissé, 25, and her nonuplets - five girls and four boys - are said to be doing well.

The babies weighed between 500g and 1kg (1.1lb and 2.2lb) when they were born.

Medical director Prof Alaoui said that Ms Cissé was 25 weeks pregnant when she was admitted and his team managed to extend her term to 30 weeks. Ten doctors and 25 paramedics assisted at the delivery.

The shootout killed nine people plus three attackers, in a rare attack far from the jihadists' northern strongholds, Mali's defense ministry adviser said.

The four rescued U.N. employees were two South Africans, a Russian and Ukraine, said U.N. mission in Mali spokeswoman Radhia Achouri.

Mali's army continued to surround the Hotel Byblos in Sevare north of Bamako, battling militants into the evening.

Officials said at least two extremists and five soldiers had been killed. The government said forces detained seven suspected militants.

Lt. Col. Diarran Kone earlier said a U.N. peacekeeper was also killed. It was unclear if the peacekeeper was included in the death toll. He said that at least six people were being held inside the hotel.

The attackers came on motorcycles around 5 a.m. into Gourma-Rharouss, about 160 kilometers (100 miles) southeast of of the northern city of Timbuktu, said resident Moussa Cisse.

"They killed 10 soldiers, including a lieutenant. They burned two Malian army vehicles before leaving the village," he said.

A soldier said the men cried out "Allahu Akbar" as they left. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not permitted to speak to the press.