Islamist extremists controlling the city of Timbuktu publicly whipped six young people, residents say.

The victims, males and females aged between 16 to 22, each received 100 lashes for having talked to each other on the city streets.

Aboubacrine Yattara, who lives in Timbuktu and witnessed the whippings, said the young people were arrested last week. They were flogged today in Timbuktu's small market.

The head of the Islamist brigade responsible for customs in Timbuktu, Mohamed Ag Mossa Intoulou, did not deny the whippings but said he could not comment.

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