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Rebels release 10 army hostages
06/09/2007 19:40 - (SA)
Moussa Bolly
Bamako - Rebels in Mali's northeastern desert have released 10 of about 30 soldiers held for more than a week, military officials said Thursday.
Nearly 40 government fighters were taken hostage in a series of attacks last week - the first resurgence of violence since a peace deal between Tuareg rebels and the government last year. A handful of the hostages were released the next day.
The latest group of hostages appeared to have been released because they were sick and needed medical care. They were taken to a hospital in the city of Kidal and were expected to be flown to the capital, Bamako, in ensuing days, said two military officials. Both spoke on condition of anonymity because the information had not yet been officially released.
Government and army spokesperson declined to comment. Representatives for Ibrahim Bahanga, the rebel leader the government says is behind the attacks, could not be reached.
Bahanga rejected the peace deal signed in July 2006, saying it did not do enough to help the ethnic Tuareg minority.
The renewed violence has raised fears that a Tuareg rebellion in neighbouring Niger is spilling over into Mali. The Malian government has said it has proof that the same fighters are involved in both conflicts, though the Niger rebels have denied any connection.
The violence in the north has already claimed lives - the military says two soldiers were killed in the military convoy attacks and 10 civilians died when a transport vehicle hit a land mine late last week.
Though Mali is often called one of the most stable countries in West Africa, its northeastern desert region was the launching point for a 1990s Tuareg rebellion.
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