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Mali: Tuareg rebels 'defeat government army in Kidal' Mali: Tuareg rebels 'defeat government army in Kidal'
(35 minutes later)
Tuareg rebels in Mali say they have defeated government forces in heavy fighting for control of the key northern town of Kidal.Tuareg rebels in Mali say they have defeated government forces in heavy fighting for control of the key northern town of Kidal.
Several government soldiers were killed, wounded or captured, a rebel spokesman said. Several government soldiers were killed or captured, a rebel spokesman said.
UN chief Ban Ki-moon called for an immediate ceasefire. The government admitted its troops had retreated and the president called for an immediate ceasefire.
Fighting first broke out on Saturday when Mali's Prime Minister Moussa Mara visited Kidal to show support for government forces based there.Fighting first broke out on Saturday when Mali's Prime Minister Moussa Mara visited Kidal to show support for government forces based there.
He had also hoped to revive peace talks with the rebels, who belong to the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA). The renewed fighting threatens to end efforts to revive peace talks with the rebels, who belong to the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA).
The group is fighting for the independence of northern Mali. The group is fighting for the independence of northern Mali.
Control of Kidal was split between the MNLA and the government.Control of Kidal was split between the MNLA and the government.
The BBC's Alex Duval Smith reports from the capital, Bamako, that both sides brought in reinforcements for Wednesday's battle.The BBC's Alex Duval Smith reports from the capital, Bamako, that both sides brought in reinforcements for Wednesday's battle.
Fighting began when the Malian army fired rockets on the governor's compound, which had been held by the MNLA since Saturday, she says.Fighting began when the Malian army fired rockets on the governor's compound, which had been held by the MNLA since Saturday, she says.
An MNLA spokesman said they had defeated government forces after six hours of fighting, and their flag was flying over the military base in Kidal. The MNLA said they had defeated government forces after six hours of fighting, and their flag was flying over the military base in Kidal.
The government has not yet commented on the MNLA's claims.
MNLA official Attaye Ag Mohamed told Reuters news agency that the group had taken control of "all of Kidal, including Malian Military Camp 1, the regional governor's office and the Kidal fortress."
"On our side, two fighters were killed and eight others were wounded," he added.
Eyewitnesses said parts of the town centre, including the market, had been destroyed in the fighting.Eyewitnesses said parts of the town centre, including the market, had been destroyed in the fighting.
On Monday, the MNLA freed about 28 hostages it had abducted in Kidal on Saturday. MNLA official Attaye Ag Mohamed said the situation in the town was calm on Wednesday night.
It said their release was a humanitarian gesture. He also said MNLA fighters had taken several other towns in the north and our correspondent confirmed that the Malian army abandoned its positions in Menaka, Agelhok, Anefis and Tessalit.
The government acknowledged the fighting in a statement, saying Malian soldiers were forced "to retreat under heavy fire" after problems with "coordination and intelligence".
The statement also said the rebels were "supported by al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) terrorists and drug traffickers".
It said troops were being "reorganised" and that an investigation into the failed operation was under way.
"The president has called for an immediate ceasefire," government spokesman Mahamane Baby said on state television on Wednesday.
The government did not comment on casualty figures, but the MNLA said several fighters had been killed or wounded on both sides.
The group also claimed to have captured 27 government soldiers.
'Embarrassing defeat'
One western diplomat in the capital Bamako told Reuters that the poorly executed attack had "embarrassed" the government.
Gerard Araud, France's ambassador to the UN, said French forces had not been involved in the operation.
He said the Malian government "did not inform either Minusma [the UN peacekeeping force] or the French Serval".
France currently has around 1,600 soldiers in Mali as part of Operation Serval, and a spokesman said on Wednesday that the country would reinforce its presence with 100 more soldiers.
In 2012, a Tuareg rebellion in northern Mali triggered a military coup.In 2012, a Tuareg rebellion in northern Mali triggered a military coup.
Civilian rule was re-established in 2013 amid a French-led military intervention, but Islamist and separatist forces remain active in some areas. Civilian rule was re-established in 2013 following the French-led military intervention, but Islamist and separatist forces remain active in some areas.