(NSI News Source Info) BAMAKO, Algeria - May 5, 2009: Algeria has begun delivering military equipment to Mali as part of stre
ngthened military cooperation between the neighboring countries, military sources said here May 4.
The move follows a recent visit to Algeria by Mali's defense minister, during which he had talks with President Abdelaziz Bouteflika.
"This aid is rich and varied. I can tell you, for example, that it includes fuel for our troops, sleeping bags for special operations forces and even weapons," a source close to the army chiefs of staff said.
A second military source said the army was expecting a total of five planeloads of military equipment from Algeria.
Algeria has in recent months helped broker a settlement between Tuareg rebels active in northern Mail and the government in Bamako. The Tuaregs are a nomadic desert people.
Malian troops last month arrested four suspected Islamist militants after an exchange of fire in the desert region of northern Mali, near the Algerian border.
The men are suspected of links to al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, the north African wing of Osama Bin Laden's terrorist group active in Algeria, who are holding two European tourists hostage.
ngthened military cooperation between the neighboring countries, military sources said here May 4.
The move follows a recent visit to Algeria by Mali's defense minister, during which he had talks with President Abdelaziz Bouteflika.
"This aid is rich and varied. I can tell you, for example, that it includes fuel for our troops, sleeping bags for special operations forces and even weapons," a source close to the army chiefs of staff said.
A second military source said the army was expecting a total of five planeloads of military equipment from Algeria.
Algeria has in recent months helped broker a settlement between Tuareg rebels active in northern Mail and the government in Bamako. The Tuaregs are a nomadic desert people.
Malian troops last month arrested four suspected Islamist militants after an exchange of fire in the desert region of northern Mali, near the Algerian border.
The men are suspected of links to al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, the north African wing of Osama Bin Laden's terrorist group active in Algeria, who are holding two European tourists hostage.
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