Separatist rebels in northern Mali say they are holding 19 soldiers from the national army following recent fighting, AP reported. Moussa Ag Acharatoumane, a spokesman for the Coordination of Azawad Movements, a separatist coalition, said the soldiers were captured Friday following clashes between the army and rebels in the northern town of Tessit. Col. Diarran Kone, an adviser with Mali's defense ministry, confirmed that some soldiers were in rebel custody but would not say how many.
