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Africa North
U.N. Chief Backs Mali Intervention with Conditions
2012-11-30
[An Nahar] U.N. leader the ephemeral Ban Ki-moon
... of whom it can be said to his credit that he is not Kofi Annan...
said Wednesday the Security Council should approve a military attack on Islamic beturbanned goons in Mali only if African nations can answer "fundamental questions" on their proposed force.

The U.N. leader said in a report that any operation in northern Mali carries major humanitarian and human rights
When they're defined by the state or an NGO they don't mean much...
risks even though it is becoming necessary because of mounting abuses by the "terrorist and affiliated" turbans.

Ban said the Security Council had to demand stronger military plans from African backers of the operation and added that the United Nations
...the Oyster Bay money pit...
could not offer financing for the enterprise.

Tuareg rebels and Islamists linked to al-Qaeda took over northern Mali in March, seizing on the chaos after a military coup in the capital Bamako. West African nations want to send a military force to retake the territory if talks to end the crisis fail.

The Islamists have destroyed Moslem shrines and been accused of carrying out summary executions.

"I am profoundly aware that if a military intervention in the north is not well conceived and executed, it could worsen an already fragile humanitarian situation and also result in severe human rights abuses," Ban said in his much-anticipated report.

"Fundamental questions on how the force would be led, sustained, trained, equipped and financed remain unanswered," he added.

"A military operation may be required as a last resort to deal with the most hard line bully boy and criminal elements in the north," Ban said.

"But, before that stage is reached, the focus must be on initiating a broad-based and inclusive political dialogue aimed at forging national consensus around a roadmap for transition," Ban warned.
Posted by:Fred

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