At least four people were killed and several injured in ethnic clashes between Tuareg and non-Tuareg residents of the northern Malian town of Kidal, dpa cited officials as saying Friday. "The provisional death toll is four, with several people severely injured," said Defence Ministry spokesman Colonel Diaran Kone. The fresh violence is a setback to stabilizing the north ahead of presidential elections next week. Peace in Kidal is seen as essential to the success of the polls. Supporters of the Tuareg rebel Movement for the Liberation of the Azawad (MNLA) had attacked civilians supporting the Malian government, according to Kone. A gendarme in Kidal told dpa: "The clashes started around 9 pm. Gunshots were heard. United Nations and French forces were slow to arrive and disperse the actors by firing shots into the air. Some arrests were made." According to local radio reports, the situation in Kidal remained tense on Friday.
