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The African Union (AU) on Saturday said Mali needs to form an inclusive government headed by exiled Malian President Amadou Toumani Toure by July 31, or may face international military intervention. The presidential-level meeting of the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) that convened here also called for the immediate disbandment of the military junta that has seized power. "The council calls for actions by the international community," said Ramtane Lamamra, AU peace and security commissioner, at the end of the daylong meeting on the Malian crisis. A technical mission has been deployed to develop a strategy for military operations to follow, he said, adding that another mission is under way to collect necessary supplies for possible operations. The initiative would be submitted to the United Nations (UN) for review, he added. Fifteen African leaders, including incumbent PSC Chairman Allassane Ouattara, who is also president of Cote d'Ivoire , called for an international inquiry to probe the attack against interim President Dioncounda Traore. The PSC discussed a wide range of issues that have risen since the military coup led by Amadou Sanogo. The African leaders had previously expressed concern that the Malian crisis could deteriorate the security situation of the entire region and destroy the government structure of the West African nation. The communiqué called for efforts to facilitate the safe return of the former Malian president, who fled to Dakar , Senegal after he was ousted in March. The PSC also condemned the military's grabbing of power from the civilian administration as "unacceptable interference of the military" and called for the immediate deployment of an AU human rights team to investigate rights violations by the militants. Mali , which is currently under AU sanctions that bar its leaders from participating in any formal diplomatic undertakings at the AU, could see the ban lifted in early August if an inclusive government be formed. The communiqué also condemned the activities of the terrorist groups in Northern Mali , including Boko Haram and the Al Qaeda. AU leaders called for continued interaction with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in dealing with the crisis in Mali . ECOWAS, a regional bloc with 12 members, has been considering sending an international military force into Northern Mali after its government was toppled and rebels active in the region have recently declared independence. "The territorial integrity of Mali is not for discussion. We reject terrorism and rebellion as a tactic to further political demands," the PSC said in its communiqué. Meanwhile, the AU and ECOWAS stressed that they have no intention of imposing a government on the Malian people. "It is not up to the AU and ECOWAS to form the government in Mali ," AU Chairman Ouattara said, adding that the formation of a unity government should bring together all the key players in Mali 's national life, including members of the civil society. But he did not answer questions on whether members of the insurgent groups in the north could also join the government. (Xinhua xxxxxxx 124 (National) Six mentally challenged women killed in W. Bengal Kolkata, July 15 (Xinhua-ANI): At least six mentally challenged women have been killed and buried secretly in West Bengal , the police said Sunday. Three men including the superintendent of the government-run home for the mentally challenged women, a doctor and an accomplice have been arrested. The case came into light when local residents complained about a young inmate of the home, Gudia, being murdered and buried inside the home at Jamalpur in Bardhaman district, around 100 km from Kolkata here, last week to the police. The police raided and dug out Gudia's body and autopsy revealed she was raped and killed. A police investigation Sunday revealed five more women had been similarly killed and their bodies buried near the home. Three more mentally challenged women whose names are in the register are missing from the home and the police suspects they too might have been killed.

African Union considers military operation to restore Mali Govt