[MAGHAREBIA] The secular Touareg National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) on Saturday (March 9th) "categorically rejected" a request by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to disarm as a pre-condition for talks with the Malian government, AFP reported. The statement, signed by MNLA chief Bilal Ag Achérif, also urged for a UN peacekeeping mission to be dispatched to Northern Mali.
Last week, the Malian government set up a reconciliation commission. The MNLA was the only separatist movement with which Malian authorities were willing to negotiate.
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