Tuareg in Mali declare "full liberalization" of the area surrounding the Gao and Timbuktu

Tuareg rebels announced in the National Movement for the Liberation of Azoad in a statement Sunday that they are "captured" on Saturday on the city of Gao, Timbuktu and surrounding the last city still controlled by the army in the north.The rebels said in a statement on their website that "the movement ended the occupation of each fiscal Gao region through the acquisition of control of the city and Saturday," and added that: "The region came under the control and management" movement.On the other hand, the rebels said they were "surrounding" Timbuktu last city in the region are still under the financial control of the army.The National Movement for the Liberation of Azoad that "leadership surround the city of Timbuktu to expel the remainder of the administration's political and military finance."According to several sources that the Tuareg rebels took control of the GAO after fierce fighting with government forces, which withdrew from the city.Said one adviser to governor of the region in a telephone conversation conducted by the AFP from Bamako that "the army camps Gao landed in the hands of various rebel groups, have controlled the GAO."For his part, Mohammed said LaSalle, who joined the rebel National Movement for the Liberation of President Azoad faction in the mutiny "actually control the camp at the exit of the city."He explained that the rebels "Islamists in control of the other camp located within the GAO, we have a common goal with the Islamists is to combat the financial authority."Witnesses said the contact with the AFP on Saturday night, Sunday opened the doors of the prison unidentified civilian, while the number of civilians, looting of public buildings.A security source said that officials of a large number of international NGOs living in Gao left the city.