Mali government signs peace deal, Tuareg rebels delay

Algiers: The Malian government signed a peace agreement with some northern rebel groups on Sunday but the main Tuareg armed coalition asked for more time to consult its grassroots.

The deal, hammered out in eight months of tough negotiations in neighbouring Algeria, provides for the transfer of a raft of powers from Bamako to the north, an area the size of Texas that the rebels refer to as "Azawad".

The Tuareg rebel alliance that includes the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad said it had asked for a "reasonable delay" for consultations before signing.