Assault by pro-govt militia a threat to peace in Mali: UN

Bamako (AFP) - The head of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Mali said Tuesday an attack by loyalist fighters on rebel positions in the north threatened "months of intense negotiations" for peace.

The UN's MINUSMA force head Mongi Hamdi condemned the pro-government Imghad and Allies Tuareg Self-Defence Group (GATIA) which seized key positions in the desert town of Menaka from rebels on Monday.

"I urge the parties to immediately cease hostilities and return to their positions," Hamdi said in a statement, accusing GATIA of "serious violations" of a ceasefire agreement.

"This resurgence of tensions threatens the efforts of all to restore lasting peace in Mali."

The skirmish came after the main Tuareg rebel alliance, known as the Coordination for the Movements of Azawad (CMA), a group that GATIA opposes, announced it was committed to a deal to bring stability to the conflict-hit nation.

The Malian government and a coalition of armed groups from the north known as the Platform had already signed the document, brokered by Algeria under UN auspices over the past eight months.

But the CMA had been holding out, demanding an amendment guaranteeing political recognition for "Azawad", the name used by the Tuareg for the northern part of Mali.

"Months of intense negotiations involving all parties to put an end to the Malian crisis could be threatened," Hamdi said.

He added that he had met rebel leaders on Sunday in Mauritanian capital Nouakchott who "confirmed their intention to initial the agreement".

The rebels blamed "elements of the Malian army and its militias" for Monday's attack but the government said in a statement it had learnt of the incident "with great surprise and a strong concern".

It condemned "the resumption of hostilities and the resumption of violence at a time when, with the international community and stakeholders, all efforts are being made to reach a peace agreement".

GATIA told AFP it had only ousted the CMA after the rebels engaged the pro-government group 40 kilometres (25 miles) southwest of Menaka.

Meanwhile a security source from the UN peacekeeping mission told AFP there had been "several skirmishes on Tuesday" near the northwestern caravan town of Timbuktu.

Fighting broke out between the army and rebels who had "fired gunshots, without serious consequences", the source said.