Tuareg rebels resume fighting with Mali troops: local leaders

AFP, March, 2008

BAMAKO (AFP) — Fighting resumed Saturday in northern Mali between Tuareg rebels and government troops, who lost 33 men captured and three killed since Thursday, local dignitaries said.

The rebels loyal to Ibrahim Ag Bahanga machine-gunned an army patrol 30 kilometres (20 miles) north of Aneibara, half-way between Tinzaouatene, on the border with Algeria, and the regional capital of Kidane, they said.

Fighting was continuing as the rebels tried to prevent the government forces based at Tinzaouatene from falling back on Kidane.

The clashes began Thursday around Tinzaouatene as the insurgents attacked soldiers clearing mines in what the rebels feared was a prelude to a government offensive.

Three soldiers were killed when their vehicle was blown up by a...