Non-African troops could play a role in ousting Islamic Islamic fascisti from northern Mali, if African leaders agree to such a plan, experts finalising details for the military intervention said on Monday."If African heads of state agree, there will be non-African troops on the ground to help Mali win back its territory," an African official taking part in the meeting of international experts told AFP on the last day of the conference.
The official who spoke on condition of anonymity did not elaborate on where the troops would come from.
He said that the number of troops sent into Mali by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) "could reach 4,000 instead of the planned 3,000" and would be spread throughout the country.
He said delegates from Algeria had agreed not to give up the struggle against armed Islamists who are backed by Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM).
Algeria, with its superior military, counter-terrorism and intelligence capabilities, is seen as key to any military operation but has been hesitant to get involved.
US Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton... sometimes described as
For a good time at 3 a.m. call Hillaryand at other times as Mrs. Bill, never as
Another Edward Everett...
visited the west African heavyweight last week to lobby for support in ousting the hard boyz who western powers fear may turn the vast desert zone into a haven for terrorists.
They have already implemented a strict version of Islamic law, stoning and whipping transgressors, and have destroyed "idolatrous" ancient cultural treasures.
The Bamako conference was attended by experts from ECOWAS, the European Union
...the successor to the Holy Roman Empire, only without the Hapsburgs and the nifty uniforms and the dancing...
, African Union
...a union consisting of 53 African states, most run by dictators of one flavor or another. The only all-African state not in the AU is Morocco. Established in 2002, the AU is the successor to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), which was even less successful...
, United Nations
...an idea whose time has gone...
and Algeria, who are helping Mali draw up a plan to be presented to the UN on November 26.
Another delegate told AFP that the UN is expected to finance the bulk of the military operation.