Malian Pt Touré: “Touareg rebels are backed by AQIM terrorists”

Malian President Amadou Toumani Touré has accused Touareg rebels of the Azawad National Liberation Movement (MNLA) of committing what he termed ” appalling war crimes” in the embattled Aguelhoc region in northern Mali.

• In an interview earlier this week with the French newspaper “Le Figaro”, the Malian President also accused heavily-armed Al Qaeda terrorists, who are active in the northern regions, of backing the MNLA Touareg rebels in an attempt to bring about “the partition and destabilization of Mali”, as he put it.

• He further expressed amazement at “the deafening silence of international organizations” in the face of such horrendous atrocities.

• President Amadou Touré also affirmed that the Malian authorities were ready for a serious dialogue with the Touareg rebellion leaders in a bid to thrash out a peaceful and lasting solution to the conflict while firmly excluding the option of independence of north-eastern Malian regions as demanded by the insurgents.