Mali rebel group rejects ‘terrorist’ label

Newly created armed group’s co-founder criticises government amid talk of new military assault on Kidal.

There are indications coming out of Mali that government soldiers may be preparing for a major offensive to recapture the few remaining strongholds of the Tuareg fighters in Kidal, one of northern Mali’s three largest cities.

Sheikh Awssa, a co-founder of the Islamic Movement of Azawad, an armed group that controls Kidal, told Al Jazeera: “We are not terrorists. But Mali would like to describe us as such and get the world to attack us in the name of the war on terrorism.”

Al Jazeera’s Mohamed Vall reports from Kidal.

Source: Al Jazeera