(BAMAKO, Mali) — Mali’s government said that armed men attacked a central village, killing 37 civilians, in what appeared to be ethnic violence.

State television broadcast a government announcement that men dressed as Dozo hunters attacked Kouloghon village early Tuesday.

The Fulani Association head Tabital Pulaaku said those killed were from the Fulani ethnic group and included the village chief.

The violence highlights the continuing tensions in central Mali between the Fulani, who are accused of being linked to al-Qaida, and the Dozo militia.

Mali’s government has started a disarmament campaign to take weapons from the rival groups. This attack is expected to make local groups unhappy to give up their arms.

Several human rights groups have reported several hundred civilians killed in central Mali because of attacks by armed groups.

(MADRID) — Desperate to reach Europe from North Africa, two African migrants were discovered by police attempting to cross the Spanish border hidden inside a pair of mattresses.

A video shot by a mobile phone of the move Sunday went viral in Spain. It showed agents of Spain’s Civil Guard taking two mattresses off the top of a van and cutting them open to reveal two young men inside.

The Civil Guard told The Associated Press on Tuesday the incident occurred at a border crossing from Morocco to Melilla, one of two Spanish cities on the North African coast.

The two migrants told the police they each paid 4,500 euros ($5,100) to a human trafficker to attempt the crossing. The driver of the van fled on foot when agents asked to inspect his cargo. The two men were taken to a migrant holding center.

Also Tuesday, Spain’s maritime rescue service said its craft saved 111 migrants trying to cross the Strait of Gibraltar or nearby waters.

Over 2,200 migrants died trying to reach Europe acros..

(TOKYO) — Japanese Emperor Akihito waved to throngs of well-wishers eager to see the final New Year’s appearance of his reign Wednesday just months before the 85-year-old royal abdicates.

“I am truly happy to celebrate the New Year with all of you under such cloudless skies,” he told the crowd from a balcony at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.

Akihito makes annual New Year’s appearances alongside his wife Empress Michiko and other family members to wish peace for the nation. He was scheduled to make five appearances Wednesday. Japanese media reported more than 90,000 people had gathered by early afternoon, a record pace. Many waved Japanese flags and had waited from early in the morning.

Akihito succeeded his father, wartime Emperor Hirohito, in 1989, and will abdicate on April 30 with his elder son ascending to the Chrysanthemum Throne.

Japan’s imperial family is far more cloistered than their Western counterparts, and Hirohito was once viewed as a god. Akihito strove to become a mor..