FASSALA/MAURITANIA
Mali's MNLA Tuareg separatists will support French and African troops to root out armed groups in the country's north, an MNLA leader has said.
"MNLA will fight on the side of France and the African forces to drive armed groups out of the region," Ahmed ag Hamama told The Anadolu Agency on Monday.
Hamama said in a tactical move, MNLA had withdrawn to safer areas in Mali's east and north in order to "avoid confrontation with Ansar Dine and al Qaeda," adding that the Kidal region was still under MNLA's control.
"MNLA wants an independent and a secular state whereas Ansar Dine calls for jihad in the Azawad region and in western Africa," Hamama said.
