UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday voiced concerns over the situation in Mali, where recent clashes between government forces and rebels have left at least 32 dead and some 30 others wounded.
"This latest incident underscores the urgent need to find an immediate and lasting solution to this recurrent conflict so that Mali can focus on its development priorities and consolidation of its democracy," the UN chief said in a statement issued by his spokesperson.
Ban said he looked forward to being briefed in more details by his special envoy Said Djinnit, who is scheduled to visit Mali in the coming days.
According to reports reaching here, the Mali army shot dead 17 ethnic Tuareg rebels and wounded 25 others Wednesday night when the rebels attacked a military post, 150 km north of the northern city of Kidal.
The army reported 15 soldiers were killed and six wounded during the exchange of fire with the rebels, confirmed spokesman for the army Abdoulaye Koulibaly.
Attacks, kidnappings and armed clashes have recently increased in northern Mali.
Fearing that violence in the neighboring country could spread further, Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika has reassured the Malian government that Algiers is keen to resume mediation between the government forces and the Tuareg rebels.
The mediation efforts by Algeria, a major mediator in Mali's domestic conflict, were suspended in April after Mali's press accused the country "of bending too much to the whims of the rebels."
Source:Xinhua
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