DAKAR, Nov. 12 (Xinhua) -- Sahelo-Saharian states opened a ministerial meeting on regional security in the Malian capital Bamako on Tuesday, the pan-African press APA reported.

    Malian Foreign Minister Moctar Ouane presided over the meeting which was also attended by his counterparts from Algeria, Burkina Faso, Libya, Niger and Chad.

    Participants discussed cooperation in maintaining peace, security and stability while promoting development in the region, in preparation for a summit to be held in Bamako by the end of the year, APA said.

    Ouane told the meeting that numerous menaces including some of new type are affecting personnel security and interests in the region, complicating the difficulties for Sahelo-Saharian states in their fight against poverty.

    The criminal network takes advantage of this situation and "organize themselves against the security forces in our countries" in pursuit of a lawless place for their illicit activities such as banditry, terrorism and all kinds of trafficking -- arms, drugs and people.

    To confront these challenges, the Malian government urges the countries in the region to make concerted efforts and deepen their political cooperation in tackling the security problems, Ouane said.