UN Security Council backs French intervention in Africa

NEW YORK The United Nations Security Council has unanimously endorsed the French military intervention against Islamist rebels in Mali. French President Francois Holland said at the same time that African troops should joint the campaign within a week. UN Security Council backs French intervention in Africa After the emergency meeting of the Security Council in New York, held at the request of Paris, the French ambassador said his country had "understanding and support" of all 14 other members of this body, reports the BBC. According to him, France wants the West African countries' forces to deploy in Mali as soon as possible and help to combat the Islamists. It is expected that Malian and French troops will be joined by 3,000 African soldiers, pursuant to a resolution adopted by the Security Council in December, which allows for an intervention in case a solution through negotiations cannot be found. Meanwhile, Holland said that 750 French soldiers were already deployed in the African country, and that this number will increase. He pointed out that the French forces in Mali during the night carried out new attacks against extremists' positions and will continue to deploy forces on the ground and in the air, reports Reuters. France began the intervention in Mali on Friday, after Islamist insurgents, who have been in control the north of the former French colony since March of last year, began to move towards the south. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton last night confirmed that she had convened an extraordinary meeting of EU foreign ministers for this week, in order to consider how they can provide support to Mali in the fight against extremists. On the other hand, Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan have condemned the French military intervention against armed Islamist groups in the African state of Mali, warning that it would be disastrous. The Taliban, on their website, said that France should "learn a lesson from the failed wars in Afghanistan and Iraq". It further said that France had launched a war against Muslims in Mali without any legal basis, an that that governments and global organizations must prevent such offenses. "The intervention will not only be catastrophic for Mali, but also for France," warned a spokesman for the Taliban in Afghanistan. Other Islamist groups had previously sent warnings that they would take revenge over the intervention of the French military. The rebels in Mali (Beta/AP, file) Tanjug

UN Security Council backs French intervention in Africa

After the emergency meeting of the Security Council in New York, held at the request of Paris, the French ambassador said his country had "understanding and support" of all 14 other members of this body, reports the BBC.

According to him, France wants the West African countries' forces to deploy in Mali as soon as possible and help to combat the Islamists.

It is expected that Malian and French troops will be joined by 3,000 African soldiers, pursuant to a resolution adopted by the Security Council in December, which allows for an intervention in case a solution through negotiations cannot be found.

Meanwhile, Holland said that 750 French soldiers were already deployed in the African country, and that this number will increase.

He pointed out that the French forces in Mali during the night carried out new attacks against extremists' positions and will continue to deploy forces on the ground and in the air, reports Reuters.

France began the intervention in Mali on Friday, after Islamist insurgents, who have been in control the north of the former French colony since March of last year, began to move towards the south.

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton last night confirmed that she had convened an extraordinary meeting of EU foreign ministers for this week, in order to consider how they can provide support to Mali in the fight against extremists.

On the other hand, Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan have condemned the French military intervention against armed Islamist groups in the African state of Mali, warning that it would be disastrous.

The Taliban, on their website, said that France should "learn a lesson from the failed wars in Afghanistan and Iraq".

It further said that France had launched a war against Muslims in Mali without any legal basis, an that that governments and global organizations must prevent such offenses.

"The intervention will not only be catastrophic for Mali, but also for France," warned a spokesman for the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Other Islamist groups had previously sent warnings that they would take revenge over the intervention of the French military.