The United States on Friday rejected a declaration of independence by Touareg rebels in northern Mali, joining international refusal to support the move by the insurgents. “We reject the MNLA’s statement of independence and reiterate our call for the territorial integrity of Mali,” State Department spokesman Patrick Ventrell told AFP, referring to the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad.
- Agence France Presse, April 6, 2012
Now that the Touareg rebels are in control of nearly two-thirds of Malian territory, I thought it was time to resurrect a story I reported in 2003. It asks the not-unrelated question: “Why did Volkswagen name their luxury SUV the Touareg?”
Perhaps this custom "Qatar" version of the Touareg would be more appropriate in northern Mali these days
