Mali Rebels Open Fire on Protest, One Killed
Malian rebels opened fire on protesters in the northern town of Gao Tuesday, killing at least one person and leaving several injured, witnesses told Agence France Presse.
The march was organized to protest the death of a local government official who was shot on Monday in Gao, which was seized by Tuareg and Islamist rebels nearly three months ago.
"We are marching to protest the death of our municipal councilor," said teacher Oumar Diankante, who said it was the Tuareg rebels' National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) who opened fire on the protesters.
"I have seen one person dead already, others say there are several dead," he added.
"This is serious! The rebels (MNLA) are shooting at us because we are marching," another witness said on condition of anonymity.
A hospital source in Gao said "five people with bullet wounds" had been admitted, but that it was not clear whether it was the MNLA or Islamist group Ansar Dine (Defenders of Faith) who had opened fire.
Source: Agence France Presse
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