Just what the world needs - another Islamist state

The BBC report that:

'Mali Tuareg and Islamist rebels agree on Islamist state

Two rebel groups that seized northern Mali two months ago have agreed to merge and turn their territory into an Islamist state, both sides say.

The Tuareg MNLA, a secular rebel group, and the Islamist group Ansar Dine signed the deal in the town of Gao, spokespeople said.

Ansar Dine, which has ties to al-Qaeda, has already begun to impose Sharia, or Islamic law, in towns such as Timbuktu.'

Do read the whole article and wonder at the desire for Islamic states amongst so many people and how many non-Muslim Mali people will have to flee from The Islamic Republic of Azawad to escape persecution for being non-Muslims.

Interestingly the BBC seem reluctant to inform their readers what an Islamic state means for 'ordinary people'. CNN are less coy:

'In the besieged towns, drinking, smoking, listening to music, watching soccer on TV and playing video games have been banned in what now seems to be a preparation for the creation of an Islamic state.'

So another African country succumbs to Islam, and violent Islam at that. Who's next?