Mali's chief negotiator in talks with separatist rebels, Tiebile Drame, pictured on June 18, 2013 in Ouagadougou. By Ahmed Ouoba (AFP/File)
BAMAKO (AFP) - Mali's chief negotiator in talks with separatist rebels that paved the way for nationwide July elections called for the country to "calm things down" on Thursday amid criticism of the deal.The Ouagadougou Accord, reached on Tuesday after 10 days of tense negotiations in neighbouring Burkina Faso, will enable Malian troops to enter the Tuareg-held northeastern city of Kidal to secure polls scheduled to take place on July 28."I have heard a lot of things -- that Mali is under trusteeship, that our army is under trusteeship," said Tiebile Drame on his return to Bamako."I think it is important to calm things down, to calm the situation because our country has come very far in very difficult situation."No one has the right, it seems to me, to contribute to stirring things up...
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