  We introduce and study a special class of almost contact metric manifolds,
which we call anti-quasi-Sasakian (aqS). Among the class of transversely
K\"ahler almost contact metric manifolds $(M,\varphi, \xi,\eta,g)$,
quasi-Sasakian and anti-quasi-Sasakian manifolds are characterized,
respectively, by the $\varphi$-invariance and the $\varphi$-anti-invariance of
the $2$-form $d\eta$. A Boothby-Wang type theorem allows to obtain aqS
structures on principal circle bundles over K\"ahler manifolds endowed with a
closed $(2,0)$-form. We characterize aqS manifolds with constant
$\xi$-sectional curvature equal to $1$: they admit an $Sp(n)\times 1$-reduction
of the frame bundle such that the manifold is transversely hyperk\"ahler,
carrying a second aqS structure and a null Sasakian $\eta$-Einstein structure.
We show that aqS manifolds with constant sectional curvature are necessarily
flat and cok\"ahler. Finally, by using a metric connection with torsion, we
provide a sufficient condition for an aqS manifold to be locally decomposable
as the Riemannian product of a K\"ahler manifold and an aqS manifold with
structure of maximal rank. Under the same hypothesis, $(M,g)$ cannot be locally
symmetric.
