At least 15 civilians killed by gunmen in Burkina Faso

OUAGADOUGOU, May 30 (Xinhua) -- At least 15 merchants were killed in an ambush by gunmen on Friday in Burkina Faso's northern Loroum province, according to a governmental statement that reaches Xinhua on Saturday.

The attack targeted a convoy of merchants from Titao on their way to Solle in the Loroum province, according to the statement.

The initial review shows 15 killed, a number of injured and missing as well as significant material loss, it said.

Burkina Faso's government lamented cowardly terrorist attack on civilians, especially on women and children, and started a combing operation by armed forces after the tragedy.