Mali 'reaches deal' with Tuareg rebels
Chief negotiator says deal reached paving way for army to return to rebel-held region ahead of planned polls next month.
Last Modified: 18 Jun 2013 14:17
Mali has reached a deal with Tuareg separatist fighters, paving the way for Malian government troops to return to the rebel-held northern town of Kidal ahead of planned elections in July.
Mali's chief negotiator said on Tuesday a deal had been reached after 10 days of often tense negotiations that will allow the army to enter the town to secure it ahead of the July 28 presidential ballot.
The crisis was initially sparked by a rebellion by Tuareg separatists from the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) who want autonomy for their northern homeland.
"The accord is ready to be signed," Tiebile Drame told Reuters in the Burkina Faso capital Ouagadougou where talks have been taking place for over a week.
"I can tell you that the interim accord will be signed this afternoon." no further details were forthcoming.
Mediators said a week ago that both parties had reached an agreement "in principle".
However, Mali's interim President Dioncounda Traore, sworn in after a military coup last year, had been against a deal imposing conditions on the army's return to Kidal.
The government in Bamako made clear that it wanted civilian administration and army reinstated in the rebel stronghold before the elections, which are meant to complete a democratic transition after the March 2012 coup.
The army had threatened to seize the town if no agreement was reached.
Mediators, including delegates from the EU and the UN, have worked round the clock to salvage the ceasefire deal.
A French-led military campaign launched in January ended the 10-month occupation of the northern two-thirds of the country by al-Qaeda-linked fighters.
When they withdrew, the Tuareg separatists regained control of the region.
Source: Agencies
