AU peace, security council meeting begins Tuesday in Mali

Bamako, Mali (PANA) - A ministerial meeting of the peace and security council (PSC) of the African Union (AU), designed to tackle terrorism and trans-border crime in the Sahel, opens Tuesday in Bamako, the Malian capital, official sources told PANA.

The Sahelo-Saharan region is the theatre of all sorts of banditry, including drugs dealing, arms trafficking and hostage taking.

The notorious Al Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) also operates in the area and is currently backing the Tuareg rebellion in Northern Mali.
-0- PANA GT/AAS/PAP/VAO 19March2012