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Release of Mali soldiers welcomed | Release of Mali soldiers welcomed |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Civil society groups in Mali have welcomed the release of 44 soldiers held by Tuareg rebels, saying it could pave the way for lasting peace. | Civil society groups in Mali have welcomed the release of 44 soldiers held by Tuareg rebels, saying it could pave the way for lasting peace. |
Mali's government said it had freed all its rebel prisoners in a return gesture, but did not give a number. | Mali's government said it had freed all its rebel prisoners in a return gesture, but did not give a number. |
The release of the soldiers was completed amid regional negotiations to end more than a year of rebellion in northern Mali. | The release of the soldiers was completed amid regional negotiations to end more than a year of rebellion in northern Mali. |
Tuaregs there are demanding more autonomy and a greater wealth-sharing. | Tuaregs there are demanding more autonomy and a greater wealth-sharing. |
Mariam Maiga, head of the National Peace Coalition Against Small Arms Trafficking, said the release by rebel leader Ibrahim Ag Bahanga was crucial for national unity. | Mariam Maiga, head of the National Peace Coalition Against Small Arms Trafficking, said the release by rebel leader Ibrahim Ag Bahanga was crucial for national unity. |
"Our children, our husbands and brothers will return to their families," she said, reports the UN's Irin news agency. "It is a beginning of a long-awaited and much hoped-for peace." | |
An official at Mali's Association for the Consolidation of Peace, Development and Human Rights, Ibrahim Ag Idbaltanant, called on both sides to fully honour recent peace agreements, including a government promise to provide $2m (£1.1m) of development aid for the north. | An official at Mali's Association for the Consolidation of Peace, Development and Human Rights, Ibrahim Ag Idbaltanant, called on both sides to fully honour recent peace agreements, including a government promise to provide $2m (£1.1m) of development aid for the north. |
The 44 soldiers were handed over on Tuesday to a Libyan diplomat in the Kidal region between Niger and Algeria, before their expected transfer to the Malian military. | The 44 soldiers were handed over on Tuesday to a Libyan diplomat in the Kidal region between Niger and Algeria, before their expected transfer to the Malian military. |
Although the army said four soldiers remained in captivity, Malian officials said the release opened the way for peace negotiations to restart, Reuters news agency reported. | |
"In the same spirit of peace, all of the combatants arrested and held by the nation's military authorities have been handed over to Tuareg leaders," the Malian government said. | "In the same spirit of peace, all of the combatants arrested and held by the nation's military authorities have been handed over to Tuareg leaders," the Malian government said. |
Analysts said the release marked a breakthrough for Mali, but said the situation surrounding a similar rebellion in neighbouring Niger was deteriorating. | Analysts said the release marked a breakthrough for Mali, but said the situation surrounding a similar rebellion in neighbouring Niger was deteriorating. |
Both Libya and Algeria have been trying to broker a peace deal with Mali's Tuaregs. | Both Libya and Algeria have been trying to broker a peace deal with Mali's Tuaregs. |
Tuareg rebels in Mali and Niger have been involved in sporadic armed rebellions for decades. | Tuareg rebels in Mali and Niger have been involved in sporadic armed rebellions for decades. |
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