Negotiations between Tuareg and Mali in Algiers focus on prisoners’ issue

Negotiations between Tuareg and Mali in Algiers focus on prisoners’ issue

El Khabar, 21 july 2008

Negotiations started last Friday in Algiers between the Malian Government and Tuareg rebels are slowly moving forward, a source within the Alliance of 23 May for Change rebel movement told El Khabar. Te same source further added that all that the negotiations are expected to reach during this week is releasing a batch of Malian POWs, as the Tuareg rebels have showed intransigence over Bamako’s request of releasing its hostages at once.

Furthermore, Algerian Press Agency has quoted a diplomatic source saying “he dialogue between Mali’s Government and the Democratic Alliance of 23 May 2006 for Change is characterized by sobriety and will. It targets reaching unity and concord between all Malians.”

In turn, Algerian Laxative, namely Algeria’s Ambassador to Mali, Abdelkrim Ghraib is making significant efforts to get opinions of the two parties closer, a source told El Khabar. Yet, the same source said: “information saying there is a direct interference of Prime Minister Ouyahia in the current negotiations is unfounded.”

 

21-07-2008 By A.K/ Translation A.Ait El Hara