Heavy fighting reported from Tessalit
Nord-Mali : à Tessalit, l'armée frappe un grand coup contre les rebelles du MNLA
Malian army using gunships manned by ukrainian mercenaries
Mali : violents combats à Tessalit entre le MNLA et l'armée malienne - Temoust.org | Le portail du peuple touareg berbère Kel Tamasheq
No independent sources.

Recent map sent to me of refugee/IDP upheaval in north Mali.
http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb...s/map_1678.pdf

and some news here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-17082365

Ch

The dynamic forces behind the rebellion by Baz Lecocq
allAfrica.com: Mali: The Tuareg - Between Armed Uprising and Drought

Heavy fighting around Tessalit

also, a story I saw today on how Niger is said to be dealing better with a similar possibility: BBC News - Tuareg rebels make troubled return from Libya to Mali

Ch

While the battle for Tessalit goes on, there are signs of negotiations coming up
Touareg, Mali start talks (Magharebia.com)
Mali : le MNLA s'organise pour mettre au point une plateforme de revendications - Mali - RFI

With the fall of Tessalit, only Kidal, Timbuktu and Gao remains under government control.
Tuareg rebels take Mali garrison town - Pretoria News | IOL.co.za

Sharia or independence?
 

Andy Morgan writes about the touareg rebellion
http://www.theglobaldispatches.com/a...areg-rebellion

also http://www.andymorganwrites.com/azaw...northern-mali/

With Malian central government and the army weaker than ever, touaregs have taken over much of the north. Latest conquests was Anefif and Bourma without firing a single shot, since the barracks had been deserted by the army.
Imghad who fought for Bamako have largely deserted, but their leader Ag Hamou refuse to change sides. Ongoing negotiations near Kidal over several days now, between Ag Gamou, Iyad Ag Ghali and MNLA. If MNLA and Ag Ghaly's Ansar Din can't strike a deal, there's a real risk that they will have to fight it out between themselves, as their goals are incompatible - MNLA fighting for independence, Ansar Din for sharia. Both groups are heavily armed.

Radical Tuareg Islam group Ansar Dine signed agreement in Gao independency of Malian northern territory said for british BBC Tuareg commander Bouna Ag Attayoub (MNLA). The name of new "independent" country is Azavad. Already 300.000 domestic ones left that territory.

African Union asked UN Security Council for military intervene in northern Mali. ECOWAS concern possible Al Qaeda camps in that territory and unstability of region. Situation could goes direction like in Afghanistan.

Article from France 24. with some photos of MNLA fighters and their bases

Exclusive: Tuareg rebels in Mali talk tactics and weaponry | The Observers

France 24 reporting that Tuareg rebels have been routed from their last position in Ansogo N.Mali by Islamists.

"This latest defeat means the Tuareg rebels no longer control any town in northern Mali, and are moving through the Islamist-controlled area in small groups, seeking survival rather than combat."

"The Tuareg rebels were driven out by the Islamists from their last bastion, Ansogo, situated 100 kilometres (60 miles) north of Gao," said a local government official in the town.

He said that while the Tuareg National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) had still controlled part of the zone, "now it's finished, they have run off into the bush".

"Now our whole region is in the hands of Islamists."

Also from France 24, a little-heard perspective from the people caught in the middle of the conflict, shining a little light on the complexities of the situation and fluidity of loyalties.

I wonder if they mean Ansongo, 100km south of Gao, close to Niger border.

Whatever, depressing news. So much for the Tuareg fight back.

Ch

Analysis of the current conflict, its roots and perspectives by Laurent Bigot, sous-directeur Afrique Occidentale French Foreign Ministry.

Crise malienne: La vérité brutale et glaciale - Vidéo Dailymotion

Un diplomate français fustige la classe politique du Mali et du Burkina - Agence Ecofin

Thanks Yves.

Unfortunately, I think that is true...

RR.