Mali militias leave key northern town ahead of peace deal

[WorldNews]

By Tiemoko Diallo BAMAKO (Reuters) - Pro-government militias withdrew from a flashpoint town in northern Mali on Friday, removing a key obstacle to a long-delayed U.N.-backed peace deal due to be signed this weekend. Mali's turbulent desert north is home to secular armed groups who have been battling each other for control of the strategic town of Menaka for the past two months. Western powers are hoping Saturday's peace deal will help focus resources on fighting Islamist militants who are profiting from the chaos to launch attacks on U.N. and Malian targets.

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