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Mali future debated at Brussels meeting | Mali future debated at Brussels meeting |
(about 3 hours later) | |
UN, European and African officials are due to meet in Brussels to discuss how to hold democratic elections in Mali in the summer. | UN, European and African officials are due to meet in Brussels to discuss how to hold democratic elections in Mali in the summer. |
They will also discuss the security and humanitarian situation in the wake of last year's coup and the current offensive against Islamist militants. | They will also discuss the security and humanitarian situation in the wake of last year's coup and the current offensive against Islamist militants. |
French and Malian forces are forcing back al-Qaeda-linked fighters who seized the vast north of the country. | French and Malian forces are forcing back al-Qaeda-linked fighters who seized the vast north of the country. |
The US and France want African troops to take over from French forces. | The US and France want African troops to take over from French forces. |
Meanwhile, French warplanes have been bombing rebel bases and depots in remote parts of northern Mali to try to cut off their supply routes. | Meanwhile, French warplanes have been bombing rebel bases and depots in remote parts of northern Mali to try to cut off their supply routes. |
Correspondents say the rapid progress of the French-led force has put the diplomatic focus on how to ensure lasting security in Mali. | Correspondents say the rapid progress of the French-led force has put the diplomatic focus on how to ensure lasting security in Mali. |
"When a state falls apart, it takes a while to put it back together again. Nevertheless, we need to try," said one senior EU official quoted by Reuters. | "When a state falls apart, it takes a while to put it back together again. Nevertheless, we need to try," said one senior EU official quoted by Reuters. |
"In the medium term, we need to look at ensuring the north has adequate funds for development so the communities there can build real livelihoods," the official added. | "In the medium term, we need to look at ensuring the north has adequate funds for development so the communities there can build real livelihoods," the official added. |
The international support group for Mali, meeting in Brussels on Tuesday, will discuss how to support a political process leading to elections that interim President Dioncounda Traore has said Mali hopes to hold on 31 July. | The international support group for Mali, meeting in Brussels on Tuesday, will discuss how to support a political process leading to elections that interim President Dioncounda Traore has said Mali hopes to hold on 31 July. |
It will also look at how to fund, equip and train an 8,000-strong African force expected to eventually take over from the French. | It will also look at how to fund, equip and train an 8,000-strong African force expected to eventually take over from the French. |
US Vice-President Joe Biden, speaking alongside French President Francois Hollande on Monday, said they had agreed African troops should take over "as quickly as reasonably possible". | US Vice-President Joe Biden, speaking alongside French President Francois Hollande on Monday, said they had agreed African troops should take over "as quickly as reasonably possible". |
The EU aims to send about 500 military trainers to Mali by the middle of this month. | The EU aims to send about 500 military trainers to Mali by the middle of this month. |
Funding for humanitarian aid will also be debated. Aid agencies warn that food and fuel supplies to some parts of northern Mali are starting to dry up. | Funding for humanitarian aid will also be debated. Aid agencies warn that food and fuel supplies to some parts of northern Mali are starting to dry up. |
About 45 delegations are expected at the Brussels meeting including international lenders such as the World Bank and the African Development Bank. | About 45 delegations are expected at the Brussels meeting including international lenders such as the World Bank and the African Development Bank. |
EU foreign ministers have already agreed to resume sending aid to Mali gradually, having suspended it after last year's coup. | EU foreign ministers have already agreed to resume sending aid to Mali gradually, having suspended it after last year's coup. |
Separately in Strasbourg, MEPs will question President Hollande about the French military campaign. | Separately in Strasbourg, MEPs will question President Hollande about the French military campaign. |
Mali descended into chaos last March after Tuareg rebels took advantage of a military coup to expand their control over the vast north of the country. | |
Islamist militants then fell out with Tuareg separatists, seizing the area's main towns, where they imposed strict Islamic law. | |
The French launched their intervention on 11 January as Islamist militants threatened to march towards the capital, Bamako. | The French launched their intervention on 11 January as Islamist militants threatened to march towards the capital, Bamako. |
Since then, the militants have been driven from population centres in the north and east. | Since then, the militants have been driven from population centres in the north and east. |
Kidal remains the only major town not under the control of French and Malian forces. | Kidal remains the only major town not under the control of French and Malian forces. |
French troops are at the airport in Kidal but rebels from a Tuareg group who want their own homeland in northern Mali - the MNLA - still controls the town itself. | |
Islamist fighters are believed to have fled into the mountains around Kidal, near the Algerian border, where French forces have been carrying out air strikes against them. |
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