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Mali Tuareg rebels kidnap 30 civil servants Mali Tuareg rebels kidnap officials amid deadly clashes
(about 1 hour later)
Armed rebels in northern Mali have taken about 30 civil servants hostage as the prime minister visited the area. Deadly clashes have broken out in northern Mali between soldiers and rebels, who seized dozens of officials during a visit by the prime minister.
Several armed Tuareg rebels clashed with government soldiers in Kidal on Saturday and abducted the officials. Their whereabouts are unclear. At least 36 people reportedly died as Tuareg rebels fought troops on Saturday outside the Kidal governor's office, where PM Moussa Mara was visiting.
In 2012 a Tuareg rebellion in north Mali triggered a military coup. In 2012 a Tuareg rebellion in northern Mali triggered a military coup.
Civilian rule was re-established in 2013, but Islamist and separatist forces remain active in parts of the north. Civilian rule was re-established in 2013, but Islamist and separatist forces remain active in some areas.
The civil servants had met Prime Minister Moussa Mara at the local governor's office on Saturday afternoon. "Eight members of the armed forces were killed and 25 were wounded, while 28 of the attackers were killed," the defence ministry said.
The hostages are officials posted in the town by Mali's government as a mark of sovereignty, the BBC's Alex Duval Smith in Bamako reports. Mr Mara said that the government was now "at war" with the separatists. President Ibrahim Boubakar Keita is expected to give a national address on Monday.
Exchanges of fire between the army and Tuareg rebels began before the prime minister arrived, and shots were still being heard on Sunday, our correspondent adds. Malian Defence Minister Soumeylou Boubeye Maiga said on Sunday that reinforcements would be sent to Kidal.
Mr Mara said that the government was now "at war" with the separatists. "We will double our troops on the ground if necessary," AFP news agency quoted him as saying.
Rebel control
The rebels are thought to be from the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA).
An MNLA spokesman told Reuters that the army had attacked the group first, following pro-independence protests in the town.
"We've taken about 40 prisoners, including high-ranking military officers and civil servants," Attaye Ag Mohamed said, adding that the hostages were safe and that the MNLA was controlling key parts of Kidal.
The hostages are officials posted in the town by Mali's government as a mark of sovereignty, the BBC's Alex Duval Smith reports from the capital, Bamako.
Further shooting was heard on Sunday and the governor's office was still under rebel control, but the intensity of fighting was unclear, our correspondent adds.