AQIM Expands Ops In N. Africa

LONDON [MENL] -- Al Qaida was expanding operations throughout North Africa
from the insurgency network's base in Mali.
Mauritanian President Mohammed Ould Abdel Aziz said Al Qaida
Organization in the Islamic Maghreb took over a large area of northern Mali.
Abdul Aziz said AQIM was threatening interests throughout the Sahel region,
including tourist and mining interests.