Mediators Set May 15 Deadline to Sign Mali Peace Deal

International mediators in the conflict in northern Mali increased pressure on Tuareg-led separatists on Sunday to sign up to a U.N.-brokered peace deal by announcing a signing ceremony for May 15.
Mali's government, which had already said it would sign the deal, announced 10 days ago that the separatists were also ready to initial the accord this month, but the Tuaregs then denied this and demanded further autonomy for their desert region, which they call Azawad.
The peace deal aims to end a cycle of four Tuareg-led revolts since Mali's independence from France in 1960. Diplomats also hope it will free up Malian and international forces to tackle Islamist militants in northern Mali.
A statement from the Algerian-led mediators said three days of meetings had taken place in Algiers from Wednesday to discuss the draft deal.