Tuareg rebels seize military garrison

MALI: Tuareg rebels have attacked the northern garrison town of Gao with heavy weaponry hours after another town, Kidal, fell to them. Two army helicopters were scrambled in response. Gao, population 87,000, is over twice the size of Kidal.

Separatist rebels seeking to carve out a desert homeland began a rebellion in the West African state in January. Its elected leader was ousted last month by soldiers angry at the conduct of the war.