UN rejects Mali partition proposal

The UN Security Council and the African Union are "categorically rejecting" rebel attempts to divide Mali and are calling for Guinea-Bissau's military rulers to relinquish power.

In a joint communique at the end of a meeting yesterday, the UN's most powerful body and the AU's Peace and Security Council condemned the recent unconstitutional changes in power in the West African nations and reiterated their commitment to strengthen democracy, peace and stability in Africa.