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West Africa bloc Ecowas agrees to deploy troops to Mali | |
(about 9 hours later) | |
West African regional leaders have agreed to deploy 3,300 soldiers to Mali to retake the north from Islamist extremists. | West African regional leaders have agreed to deploy 3,300 soldiers to Mali to retake the north from Islamist extremists. |
At a summit of Ecowas, the group's chairman said it was ready to use force to "dismantle terrorist and transnational criminal networks". | At a summit of Ecowas, the group's chairman said it was ready to use force to "dismantle terrorist and transnational criminal networks". |
The soldiers would be provided mainly by Nigeria, Niger and Burkina Faso. | The soldiers would be provided mainly by Nigeria, Niger and Burkina Faso. |
Islamist groups and Tuareg rebels took control of the north after Mali's president was overthrown in March. | Islamist groups and Tuareg rebels took control of the north after Mali's president was overthrown in March. |
Ivory Coast President Alassane Outtara told reporters in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, that the soldiers could be deployed as soon as the UN approved the military plan. | Ivory Coast President Alassane Outtara told reporters in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, that the soldiers could be deployed as soon as the UN approved the military plan. |
He said he hoped the Security Council would approve the plan by late November or early December. | He said he hoped the Security Council would approve the plan by late November or early December. |
'Threat to security' | 'Threat to security' |
According to a Malian army source quoted by Reuters, the plan covers a six-month period, with a preparatory phase for training and the establishment of bases in Mali's south, followed by combat operations in the north. | According to a Malian army source quoted by Reuters, the plan covers a six-month period, with a preparatory phase for training and the establishment of bases in Mali's south, followed by combat operations in the north. |
The UN had given African leaders 45 days from 12 October to draw up a plan for military intervention to retake the north. | The UN had given African leaders 45 days from 12 October to draw up a plan for military intervention to retake the north. |
In a statement, the grouping of West African states said that while dialogue remained the preferred option, force might be needed to break up the networks controlling Mali which "pose a threat to international peace and security". | In a statement, the grouping of West African states said that while dialogue remained the preferred option, force might be needed to break up the networks controlling Mali which "pose a threat to international peace and security". |
Foreign powers are divided on the best approach to the crisis in Mali. | Foreign powers are divided on the best approach to the crisis in Mali. |
On Sunday, French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian warned that if nothing was done to tackle the situation in Mali it would make the area a "terrorist sanctuary". | On Sunday, French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian warned that if nothing was done to tackle the situation in Mali it would make the area a "terrorist sanctuary". |
"In Mali, it is our own security that is at stake: the security of France, the security of Europe, because if we don't move a terrorist entity will take shape which could hit this or another country, including France, and including Europe," he said in interviews published in French media. | "In Mali, it is our own security that is at stake: the security of France, the security of Europe, because if we don't move a terrorist entity will take shape which could hit this or another country, including France, and including Europe," he said in interviews published in French media. |
France has said it will offer support but not troops for intervention in its former colony. | France has said it will offer support but not troops for intervention in its former colony. |
But a top advisor to Algeria's president said on Saturday that an international military intervention in the country would be useless. | But a top advisor to Algeria's president said on Saturday that an international military intervention in the country would be useless. |
"The question in Mali is an internal matter and there is no need to further internationalise it," terrorism and security advisor Kamal Rezzag Bara said, according to the Associated Press. | "The question in Mali is an internal matter and there is no need to further internationalise it," terrorism and security advisor Kamal Rezzag Bara said, according to the Associated Press. |
The UN has warned that the Islamist militias are imposing a harsh version of Sharia law on the areas they controlled and that forced marriage, forced prostitution, and rape are becoming widespread. | The UN has warned that the Islamist militias are imposing a harsh version of Sharia law on the areas they controlled and that forced marriage, forced prostitution, and rape are becoming widespread. |
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