Mali rebels attack Timbuktu

Residents and rebels say separatist insurgents are besieging the ancient town of Timbuktu as they take their fight for a homeland for the nomadic Tuareg people to one of the last government holdouts in northern Mali.

A resident says blasts from heavy arms and automatic gunfire crackled Sunday around the renowned intellectual center where demoralized soldiers are fleeing.

The Tuareg rebels took advantage of the chaos surrounding last week's coup in the faraway capital to take the town of Kidal on Friday and attacked the biggest northern city of Gao on Saturday - cities that never fell in previous rebellions.

Timbuktu resident Mohamed Lamine said, "We are hearing heavy weapons going off coming from the south and east of the city. A part of the army has abandoned the city since last night."