Ansar Dine clashes with army in Mali

Ansar Dine movement said it took control of the central Malian city of Kona in Mopti province, located near the edge of the government-controlled zone and the regional capital of Mopti, the gateway to the south.

“The movement seized 11 military cars and 5 vehicles belonging to the Malian army. It carries out a combing operation in the region to take control of it,” Ansar Dine’s spokesman Sanda Ould Bouamama told Echorouk on Thursday.

“So far, there are no information about any victims,” he added.

A Malian military source said the army killed what it called “terrorists” and seized their cars during clashes on Wednesday next to Mopti.

According to media reports, a number of jihadists were killed and three cars were seized in clashes between the Malian army and Ansar Dine.

Local sources said two cars of Ansar Dine were seized and military back up arrived. The army continued shooting even when Islamists withdrew to caves.

Ould Bouamama told Echorouk negotiations which were scheduled on Thursday in Ouagadougou were postponed. Ansar Dine asked for holding them on January 18th after it had confirmed that Malian authorities had no intention to hold a dialogue and it wanted to gain time only.

The clashes have been the first battle between the two sides since the adoption of UN Security Council’s Resolution No. 2085 authorizing military intervention in northern Mali.