BAMAKO, Rajab 13, 1436, May 2, 2015, SPA -- Tuareg separatist rebels attacked Malian army positions in the northern town of Dire on Saturday, as rising violence threatened to derail a U.N.-backed peace deal due to be signed this month, according to Reuters. Dire lies southwest of the ancient desert trading outpost of Timbuktu and close to the town of Lere were nine soldiers were killed in an attack on Thursday claimed by the separatist rebel Coordination of Movements for Azawad (CMA). -- SPA 22:52 LOCAL TIME 19:52 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w