UN recommends African troops in Mali become peacekeepers
By REUTERS
UNITED NATIONS - An African force deployed in Mali should be converted into a UN peacekeeping operation and a separate combat force created to confront Islamist threats, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon recommended to the UN Security Council on Tuesday.A UN-backed African force, known as AFISMA, is due to take over from France when it begins to withdraw its 4,000 troops from the West African country in late April. In a report to the 15-member Security Council, seen by Reuters, Ban recommends AFISMA become a peacekeeping force once major combat ends.But to tackle Islamist extremists directly, Ban recommended a so-called parallel force be created. Diplomats have said France is likely to provide the troops for that force."Given the anticipated level and nature of the residual threat there would be a fundamental requirement for a parallel force to operate in Mali (and potentially in the sub-region) alongside the UN mission in order to conduct major combat and counter-terrorism operations," Ban wrote.France began a military offensive in January to drive out Islamist fighters, who had hijacked a revolt by Mali's Tuareg rebels and seized two-thirds of the West African country. Paris said Mali's vast desert North was in danger of becoming a springboard for extremist attacks on the region and the Wes
Rocket sirens sound across northern Israel