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| Africa North |
| Muslim Body Changes Stance, Backs Mali Military Operation |
| 2013-01-17 |
| [An Nahar] The Organization of Islamic Cooperation on Wednesday expressed support for the French-led Mali military operation, a day after calling it "premature" and urging a ceasefire. OIC chief Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu "has reaffirmed the full support and solidarity with the Republic of Mali in its efforts to expeditiously recover areas in the north of its territory under the control of gangs in order to restore its national unity and territorial integrity," a statement said. It said Ihsanoglu reiterated support for the UN Security Council resolution 2085 which authorized the deployment of "an African-led International Support Mission in Mali (AFISMA)." He welcomed the troop contributions by OIC member states in West Africa, and appealed to others "outside the region to extend all possible form of assistance to AFISMA for the fulfillment of its mandate in order to preserve the peace and stability of the wider region." Ihsanoglu had on Tuesday called for an "immediate ceasefire in Mali and for all parties to go back to the negotiations which were led by Burkina Faso ...The country in west Africa that they put where Upper Volta used to be. Its capital is Oogadooga, or something like that. Its president is currently Blaise Compaoré, who took office in 1987 and may be in the process of being chased out now... ," after he described the military offensive which is led by French forces as "premature." In his Tuesday statement, he "expressed his deep concern over the military escalation" also called for "maximum self-restraint from all parties at this critical time in order to reach a peaceful solution to this conflict." |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 Africans versus Arabs, methinks. One has to wonder what the Africans think about some of their fellow members' "support" of, and "solidarity" with, AQIM. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2013-01-17 14:22 |