December 22, 2008	Monday	Zilhaj 23, 1429

BAMAKO, Dec 21: Malian troops clashed at the weekend with Tuareg rebels, leaving at least 25 people dead, including five civilians, according to disputed tolls Sunday from both sides and an aid worker.

Mali’s defence ministry said nine soldiers and 11 rebels had been killed in the fighting on Saturday near the Nampala military outpost in the north of the country. It said 12 soldiers were also wounded in the clashes.

A source close to Tuareg rebel leader Ibrahim Ag Bahanga said earlier that at least 20 Malian soldiers had been killed.

“On the army side there were more than 20 dead. We regret that, but it was them or us. We have wounded on our side,” the source stated without mentioning any rebel dead.

An official from an international aid organisation, who requested anonymity on ‘security’ grounds, said at least five civilians had been killed.

“At least five civilians died during fighting on Saturday between soldiers and armed Tuareg rebels who attacked a garrison at Nampala,” the source said.“We saw the bodies very early this morning and have alerted legal authorities.

“It appears that the Tuareg rebels targeted civilians they thought were troops in civvies, either that or they were the victims of stray bullets,” the source stated.

Either way, two of these bodies, wearing civilian clothes, were laid out in amongst dead uniformed soldiers, the NGO official said.

Ag Bahanga has called for the army to leave the nearby town of Tinezawaten.—AFP