Malian rebels declare independence

The Tuareg rebels who seized the northern part of Mali on Friday proclaimed independence for what they called the ‘State of Azawad’ and sought immediate recognition from the international community.The rebels, under the aegis of the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (known by the French acronym MNLA), stated this in a declaration posted on their official website(www.mnlamov.net), the Pan-African News Agency reports.They affirmed the commitment of the MNLA to creating conditions for lasting peace, and initiating the institutional foundations of the state based on a democratic constitution for independent Azawad.“The MNLA Executive Committee invites the entire international community, in a spirit of justice and peace without delay, to recognise the Independent State of AZAWAD.“The MNLA Executive Committee, until the establishment of the Authority of the Territory of AZAWAD, continues to manage the entire territory,” PANAquoted the rebels as saying.Explaining their action, the rebels said Mali’s colonial master, France, attached Azawad to the “Malian state it created” at independence in 1960 without the consent of the Azawad people.The rebels, strengthened by returning Tuareg rebels from Libya, capitalised on March’s military coup in Mali to sweep through the entire north, taking the key cities of Kidal, Gaoand Timbuktu.The declaration of independence came as defence chiefs from ECOWAS meet in Abidjan to discuss the political situation in Mali, including the possible deployment of a regional military force in the country.The defence chiefs are discussing the possible deployment of the ECOWAS Standby Force in Mali, following the overthrow of the government of democratically-elected President AmadouTourein the March 22 coup, led by a military junta, and the Tuareg rebellion in the north of the country.ECOWAS and the AU have also suspended Mali and are leading international efforts to isolate the junta and force it to hand power back to constitutionally elected authorities.