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| Mali Tuareg rebels kidnap officials amid deadly clashes | Mali Tuareg rebels kidnap officials amid deadly clashes |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Deadly clashes have broken out in northern Mali between soldiers and rebels, who seized dozens of officials as the prime minister visited the area. | |
| At least 36 people reportedly died in Kidal as Tuareg rebels fought troops on Saturday before and during PM Moussa Mara's visit. | |
| When he left the governor's office in Kidal, the building was then seized by the rebels, an eyewitness told the BBC. | |
| 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, but Islamist and separatist forces remain active in some areas. | Civilian rule was re-established in 2013, but Islamist and separatist forces remain active in some areas. |
| "Eight members of the armed forces were killed and 25 were wounded, while 28 of the attackers were killed," the defence ministry said. | "Eight members of the armed forces were killed and 25 were wounded, while 28 of the attackers were killed," the defence ministry said. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Malian Defence Minister Soumeylou Boubeye Maiga said on Sunday that reinforcements would be sent to Kidal. | Malian Defence Minister Soumeylou Boubeye Maiga said on Sunday that reinforcements would be sent to Kidal. |
| "We will double our troops on the ground if necessary," AFP news agency quoted him as saying. | "We will double our troops on the ground if necessary," AFP news agency quoted him as saying. |
| Rebel control | Rebel control |
| The rebels are thought to be from the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA). | 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. | 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. | "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 civil servants were seized when the rebels occupied the Kidal governor's office and their whereabouts are unclear, the BBC's Alex Duval Smith reports from the capital, Bamako. | |
| The hostages are officials posted in the town by Mali's government as a mark of sovereignty, our correspondent adds. | |
| 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. | 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. |