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.

The UN and AU urged implementation of an April 6 agreement to restore constitutional order in Mali and demanded an end to hostilities in the north by rebel groups.

In Guinea-Bissau, the UN and AU strongly condemned the April 12 coup and underlined "the urgent need" to restore constitutional order including by having the military command step down.