'AU determined to restore order to Mali'

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (PANA) – The African Union (AU) has expressed its determination to restore law and order to Mali, the Chairman of the AU Commission, Jean Ping, indicated on Monday at a meeting of the African Ministers of Finance, Economy and Planning in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital.

"What is currently happening in Mali is neither good for Mali nor for the continent, we can assure you, we are going to restore order there," said Ping at the opening the annual meeting, organised by the AU Commission and the Economic Community for Africa (ECA).

A military junta on Thursday overthrew the government of President Amadaou Toumani Touré, citing the president's inability to quell the Tuareg rebellion that has been raging since January in the northern part of the country.

Reacting to the coup, the AU suspended Mali from the 54-member organization and threatened to apply sanctions, including travel bans on the coup plotters.
-0- PANA IT/JSG/IBA/MTD/VAO 26March2012