Post date: Jan 11, 2013 8:45:40 PM
The United States condemns rebel advancement in Mali, and says it is "consulting" with France on their military intervention there.
WASHINGTON, D. C., UNITED STATES (JANUARY 11, 2013) (STATE DEPARTMENT TELEVISION) - The United States said on Friday (January 11) it was "deeply concerned" about events in Mali, and joined the international community in condemning a recent push by Islamist rebels.
France launched military intervention in Mali on Friday to help the government there stem the push southwards by Islamist rebels who control much of the north.Western powers fear that the al Qaeda-linked militants, who seized the northern two-thirds of Mali in April and pushed south to seize the central town of Konna this week, will seek to use the vast desert zone as a springboard for international attacks.
"We do understand that France hs offered some immediate military support to the Malian armed forces at the request of the Malian government. We are obviously consulting very closely with the government of France going forward," State Department Spokesperson Victoria Nuland told reporters on Friday.
The defense ministry of Mali, which is a former French colony, said that Nigeria andSenegal were also providing assistance against the Islamist insurgents.