Mali arrests driver of attackers at Cote d'Ivoire's beach resort

The driver of the vehicle used to transport perpetrators of the March 13 attack at Cote d'Ivoire's beach resort of Grand Bassam, has been arrested in Bamako, Mali's intelligence service said on Sunday.

The suspect, Alou Doumbia alias Man, is a 30-year old Malian working in the transport sector.

His arrest by the intelligence officers is due to ongoing investigations that were launched immediately after Grand Bassam attack, the statement said.

"The involvement of Doumbia and others in such an attack demonstrates how quickly the urban population has also fallen prey to terrorism. Urban dwellers are becoming easily manipulated by little money," the statement said, while at the same time urging the population to remain vigilant to this new threat.

Mali's intelligence service said "investigations are still going on and the questioning of Man and others will continue until the real perpetrators of the barbaric attack in Grand Bassam are arrested and prosecuted."

Two suspects linked to this attack were arrested in northern Mali. One of the suspects is believed to be a close confidant of Kounta Dallah, the key suspect.

The attack, for which Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb claimed responsibility, left 19 people dead, among them three Cote d'Ivoire special forces. Endit