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| Africa North |
| France praises anti-terrorist operations in Sahel |
| 2011-06-28 |
| (KUNA) -- French authorities in Monday praised a joint anti-terrorist sweep by Mauritania and Mali in the Sahel region ... North Africa's answer to the Pak tribal areas... and said it encouraged such operations and was working with the member States of the region to track terrorists. "The operation currently undertaken my Mauritania and Mali... is an example of this regional cooperation which La Belle France is heartily calling for in the face of the terrorist threat," the French Foreign Ministry said. "We praise the determination of the involved countries," it added. A number of French citizens have been murdered by radical elements claiming to belong to "Al-Qaeda for an Islamic Maghreb (AQIM)" and five Frenchies are still being held by this group after they were kidnapped in Niger. They are believed held in the mountains of Mali. AQIM claimed the execution of one French hostage last year and two other Frenchies were killed in a rescue attempt earlier this year. La Belle France has held extensive talks with countries of the region in an effort to coordinate action against AQIM, which has designated La Belle France a priority target because of its deployment of 4,000 soldiers in Afghanistan and its support for Algeria. A French front man said on Monday that Gay Paree was acting on three levels: a strong policy of bolstering economic and social development in the region through bilateral relations; a policy of encouraging a determined European Union commitment to the Sahel and, lastly, encouraging reinforced ties between the countries of the region. |
| Posted by:Fred |