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Tuareg rebels initial Mali peace deal but demand changes

By AFP
Mali An armed Malian soldier patrols in Kidal on May 17, 2014.  By Fabien Offner AFPFile
MAY 14, 2015 LISTEN
An armed Malian soldier patrols in Kidal on May 17, 2014. By Fabien Offner (AFP/File)

Algiers (AFP) - Mali's main Tuareg-led rebel alliance initialled a peace deal with the government Thursday but said changes must be made before they will sign the agreement aimed at ending decades of conflict.

"Initialling the document and signing a comprehensive agreement are and will remain legally distinct," alliance official Bilal Ag Cherif said in Algiers.

Ag Cherif said the Coordination of Azawad Movements alliance would stay away from a signing ceremony to be held by the Malian government in the capital Bamako on Friday which is to be attended by a dozen heads of state.

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