US arms Mali to battle al-Qaeda

Washington, 21 Oct-(ANA)-The US is preparing to give Mali's army millions of dollars worth of military hardware to help them fight al-Qaeda's North African branch.

Trucks, powerful communication devices and clothing are among $5m (£3m) of equipment being handed over.

Mali is already being helped to fight the Islamists by Algeria and Libya.

Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb emerged in 2007 from an Algerian Islamist group and has since claimed responsibility for dozens of attacks in the region. (ANA)

FA/ANA/21 October 2009---