Obama backs France on Mali offensive
2013-01-26 10:04
Washington - US President Barack Obama voiced support Friday
for France's military intervention in Mali and vowed to work with French
counterpart Francois Hollande to tackle extremism across North Africa.
The two presidents discussed other "shared security
concerns", including Algeria, Libya and Syria, during telephone talks, the
White House said in a statement.
"The president expressed his support for France's
leadership of the international community's efforts to deny terrorists a safe
haven in Mali," it added. Hollande thanked Obama for his "significant
support" of the effort.
The US Air Force has deployed C-17 cargo planes to ferry
French troops and equipment to northern Mali, where they are trying to help
flush out radical Islamist fighters.
The United States also was providing intelligence to Paris,
drawing on its network of satellites and surveillance drones.
Paris has asked Washington help with refuelling its
warplanes taking part in the fight against militant fighters in Mali, but
Obama's administration has yet to approve the request.
Obama and Hollande also "emphasized the need to rapidly
establish" both an African-led military force in Mali and a
"political roadmap that will lead to elections and restoration of
democratic governance," the White House said.
The pair "condemned last week's terrorist act in
Algeria," referring to the deadly hostage-taking at a natural gas plant,
and "affirmed their mutual commitment to countering terrorism more broadly
in North Africa".
- SAPA
