The National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) and Ansar Dine of Iyad Ag Ghali, who signed an agreement on May 26 for the creation of an Islamic Azawad state, could be separated because the two sides do not agree on the provisions of the said agreement, a source from Gao who followed the signing process said on Friday.

"Three days before the official signing, there was some semblance of unity but they had not agreed on some provisions. Iyad wanted the application of Sharia (Islamic law) across the entire Malian territory while MNLA was talking of moderate Islam. However, they still went ahead to sign the agreement," the source said.

The source said that the agreement was centered on eight major points among which the two brotherhood indicated that "they were aware of the immense responsibility placed on them by the country and the people, they were engaged in spreading the Islamic principle of tolerance and they respected the strong will of the Azawadian people (those living in Azawad region) and would promote their unity. MNLA and Ansar Dine also agreed to come together to create an independent Islamic Azawad state which will have the Koran and Sunna as the sources of legislation."

The source indicated that on the same night of May 26, "Iyad who was at Timbuktuu in northern Mali, was not happy with the agreement because it did not mention the specific aspect of application of Sharia."

The MNLA side also expressed its reservations over the agreement.

"Hama Ag Mamoud, MNLA's spiritual father who is the presumptive president of the Azawad state and who once served as Malian minister, denounced the agreement due to Iyad's close ties with the AQMI terrorists. He was also facing pressure from some European countries," the source affirmed.