The Malian government has made a ceasefire pact in the fractious northern Mali with Tuareg rebels.

The deal was made on Monday after four days of talks in Algiers, the Algerian capital, to end nearly a year of clashes in the large northern desert.

However, doubts remain over the strength of the deal made between government envoys and members of the Democratic Alliance for Change.

A peace deal had already been signed two years ago, but battles have continued.

Abdelkrim Ghrib, Algeria's ambassador to Mali, who mediated the talks said: "The two delegations representing the government of Mali and the Democratic Alliance for Change reached an agreement on Monday in Algiers on the cessation of hostilities."

Ghrib said that the deal includes measures concerning prisoners and refugees.

The rebel group want greater assistance for the minority Tuareg.

Mali has found it difficult to contain the attacks by the Tuareg in the past year.

Similar uprising also occurred in the 1960s and 1990s.

The talks aimed to re-assert provisions in the 2006 deal, including economic assistance for the northern area.