Geneva: The United Nations (UN) Security Council has said it is not ready to back a West African intervention force in northern Mali, which has been seized by Islamist militant groups.
The West African bloc, Ecowas, wants to send 3,000 troops to Mali.
A European diplomat who requested anonymity in order to speak about private talks said council members were not ready to support the proposed mission because they needed more details.
The operation has been hindered by logistical challenges as well as by the resistance of the country’s military ruler, who overthrew the democratically elected president on March 21. Capt. Amadou Haya Sanogo agreed to step aside in May and hand power to a civilian-led transitional government, but analysts say that he remains influential.
This week, Mali’s parliament passed a resolution calling on the government to take all the necessary measures to allow an internationally-backed military intervention in the north.
The Security Council also threatened sanctions against Islamist fighters in northern Mali and condemned the destruction of heritage sites in the ancient city of Timbuktu in a resolution passed Thursday.
The council also warned of a worsening humanitarian situation and increasing cases of hostage-taking by terrorists in the landlocked West African nation. It demanded the restoration of constitutional order following a March coup that allowed Islamists and Tuareg rebels to seize the northern part of the county.
The resolution also called on member-states to blacklist anyone associated with al-Qaida.
Kadre Desire Ouedraogo, president of Economic Community of West African States, or ECOWAS, said the organization considers the resolution a first step toward authorizing the proposed force of 3,200 people, including military, police and civilians.
“I think it is an important step towards achieving peace and stability in Mali,” he said, “given the rapid deterioration of the security and humanitarian situations.”
The Islamist faction known as Ansar Dine, or “Protectors of the Faith,” seized control of Timbuktu last week after ousting the Tuareg rebel faction that helped them invade northern Mali three months ago. The Islamist faction has since drawn international condemnation for razing sacred tombs and attacking the gate of a 600-year-old mosque.
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