About 40 residents of the troubled northern Mali town of Kidal on Wednesday protested the plan for Tuareg rebels to hand back to the government control of an administrative building and a radio station, AP reported. The handover of the buildings was intended to strengthen the Mali government's control of Kidal, but the protests as well as the presence of armed Tuareg rebels have fueled fears among officials and residents of continued insecurity in the city. The fears have been compounded by suspicion that Islamic extremists have returned. Tuareg leaders in June signed an accord with the Malian government agreeing to garrison their fighters prior to disarmament. And leaders of the Tuareg National Movement for the Liberation of the Azawad vowed to give up control of the governor's administrative offices and the radio station in Kidal on Thursday. -- SPA 20:06 LOCAL TIME 17:06 GMT تغريد
