Mali govt, rebels swap prisoners ahead of peace talks

Bamako: Tuareg rebels and the Malian government on Tuesday exchanged dozens of prisoners in a goodwill gesture on the eve of peace talks opening in Algiers, an AFP correspondent witnessed.
Forty-five Malian soldiers and police captured during clashes at the end of May in the west African nation`s restive northeast arrived at Bamako`s airport, where they were welcomed by Prime Minister Moussa Mara.
They were replaced on the plane by 41 Tuareg militants captured during patrols of the north by government security forces.