
30 civil servants were aducted by Tuarey MNLA separatists in Mali's northern town of Kidal during fighting on Saturday that also wounded 23 government soldiers.Fighting erupted early on Saturday ahead of the arrival of Prime Minister Moussa Mara,who was visiting Kidal for the first time since his appointment last month.He is seeking to revive long delayed peace talks with northern armed groups.Adama Kamissoko said ''Some 30 of our civil servants were kidnapped by the assailants who attacked the governor's office.There were 23 wounded,including three who were seriously injured were evacuated by helicopter''.A Malian military man said ''Te gun battle erupted after MNLA fighters aboard two pickup trucks attacked an army checkpoint infront of the governors office.Mean while a spokesman for the MNLA said the army attacked first,opening fire on the group's barracks following pro-independence protests in the town.
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