Mali signs pact with Tuareg rebels

Mali signed an Algerian-brokered peace agreement on Tuesday with Tuareg rebels seeking greater autonomy for their northern desert region, witnesses said.

"This courageous and responsible action carries a promising perspective for all Malian people," Algerian Foreign Minister Mohamed Bedjaoui said at a signing ceremony in Algiers, adding it would bolster the unity of the poor Sahelian state.