Mali rebels refuse to initial peace accord in current form

Fighters from the Tuareg separatist rebel group MNLA drive in the desert near Tabankort, February 15, 2015. REUTERS/Souleymane Ag Anara

BAMAKO (Reuters) - Mali's rebel coalition said on Friday it was not ready to give preliminary approval to a United Nations-backed peace proposal a day after the government announced that it would.

The statement on behalf of the Coordination of Azawad Movements (CMA) is another setback for mediators and the Malian government, which have been urging Tuareg-led separatists to sign for weeks.