Malian govt, rebels agree to truce, says official

Mali’s government and Tuareg rebels led by Ibrahim Ag Bahanga, whose men have kidnapped 33 army troops, agreed to an immediate truce during Libyan-brokered peace talks, a Libyan diplomat said on Thursday.

“Malian government and rebel envoys accepted a ceasefire on the ground from Thursday,” said the diplomat, who took part in the mediation between the two sides.

The two delegations were to meet again later on Thursday “to make further steps toward peace”, he added.

Direct talks between the two sides began in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, on Wednesday as tensions were rising in northern Mali where a Malian army unit clashed with Tuareg rebels led by Ag Bahanga. One of his aides later confirmed the incident.

Sources contacted by Agence France-Presse were unable to give a toll of the fighting, the first since the start of the Tripoli negotiations on March 28.

Ag Bahanga’s group retook arms on March 20 in violation of the Algiers peace accords of July 2006, which were to put an end to the Tuareg rebellion in Mali.

In separate incidents at least eight people, five of them civilians, have been killed and 33 Malian troops kidnapped by the rebels.

“An immediate ceasefire was key,” said the diplomat, adding that all other controversial issues including the release of hostages and troops cuts would be raised on Thursday.

“After this our Malian brothers will set a date for a meeting at Bamako or in Algeria to go beyond the Algiers agreements,” said the diplomat.—AFP