Pakistanis arrested in Mali

Some Malian Muslims feel only equity and justice can beat extremism

By Joan Baxter in Bamako

Police in Mali have arrested a group of about 20 Pakistani citizens following a meeting called to express solidarity for Osama Bin Laden and the people of Afghanistan.

Bin Laden is the chief suspect of the 11 September bombings in the United States.

Mali has a long tradition of visiting Muslim clerics preaching in mosques

Government sources say the arrests follow a meeting last week between US officials and Malian security forces, in which the Americans expressed concerns about the activities of the Pakistanis in Mali.

According to police sources not just in Bamako but also in Timbuktu, the Pakistani preachers have been under surveillance for some time.

'Rich' sponsor

But until now, there has been no reason to believe their mission was anything more than simply preaching in mosques.

Sources in Timbuktu say there is a long tradition of Islamic preachers visiting from Pakistan and many other Islamic countries.

The source in Timbuktu says the Pakistanis there are educated professionals who appear to have a 'rich' sponsor or network that can afford large private airplanes.

However, he describes them as low-profile preachers who move about from one mosque to another, citing the Koran like any other devout Muslims, and so far they have caused no alarm.

Money transfer

But since the arrests on Sunday, a police source in Bamako says there is now evidence that the Pakistanis here were using false passports.

Mali's Muslims have deplored terrorist bombings in US

The source says documents were also discovered allegedly showing that they are receiving considerable transfers of money coming through Burkina Faso.

The allegations, if not proved, could lead to criticism that Mali's secular government is using the current international climate to rein in Islamist political opponents, who have recently been calling for an Islamic revival in the county.