[An Nahar] U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry Thursday praised the "successful" intervention by France to root out Islamic rebels in northern Mali, and urged Malian leaders to organize elections.Speaking ahead of talks with U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon, Kerry said Mali would be among issues discussed during their first meeting at the State Department.
"We urge the government to continue the political transition process towards elections and to step up negotiations with the non-extremist groups in the north," Kerry said.
Mali's army is struggling to restore security after a French-led military intervention helped it push out al-Qaida-linked rebels who had seized the country's north last year and brought in strict Sharia Islamic law.