UN base in Mali's Gao city hit by deadly clashes

27 January 2015 BBC Africa

At least two people have been killed after UN forces tried to end a siege of their military base in the northern Malian city of Gao, government and hospital sources said.

Protesters attacked to show their opposition to reports of a UN plan to create a buffer zone in the region. Northern Mali has been hit by conflict between government forces, Tuareg separatists and militant Islamists. The UN has a 9,000-strong force in Mali to bolster the weak government. The protesters claimed that a buffer zone in Gao region's Tabankort district would favour Tuareg separatists. The area is presently controlled by pro-government militiamen who have clashed in recent weeks with separatist Tuareg rebels.

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