Talk to Al Jazeera - 'It was not necessary to kill Gaddafi' official

The colours of Al Qaeda are flying high in Northern Mali, the new stronghold of Tuareg rebels who have merged with a hardline group, suspected of links with Al Qaeda's north Africa branch. They took advantage of a military coup to forge ahead with their dream of an independent homeland. And now watching nervously is neighbouring Niger - which has also had its share of Tuareg rebellions - and its president.