Kerry and UN Chief to Discuss Future of Mali

US Secretary of State John Kerry Thursday praised the "successful" intervention by France to root out Islamic rebels in northern Mali during his meeting with UN chief Ban Ki-moon, and urged Malian leaders to now organize elections.

Published

3 months ago

Categories

World

Topics

US Politics, United States, Politics & Government, Africa

People

Ban Ki-moon, John Kerry

Places

United States of America, France, Mali, Washington, D.C.

Tags

united nations

Transcript

SHOTLIST: WASHINGTON, FEBRUARY 14, 2013, SOURCE: CBS **RESTRICTIONS: NO RESALE for non-editorial purposes No Japan No Free over the air broadcasters in Australia No US cable news outlets, free over the air networks or stations, their websites and their mobile phone services SOUNDBITE 1 John Kerry (man), US Secretary of State (English, 20 sec): "I'd also like to discuss today the next step in Mali in light of the successful French intervention there. 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." SOUNDBITE 2 Ban Ki-moon (man), UN Secretary General (English, 23 sec): "The United Nations is working closely with the key partners, including African Union and ECOWAS, towards a peaceful solution that restores constitutional order, addresses genuine grievances, promotes reconciliation and ensures the country's territorial integrity." - Kerry and Ban Ki-moon shaking hands - Kerry and Ban Ki-moon leave ------------------------- AFP TEXT STORY Mali-conflict-US-French,lead-REAX US hails 'successful' French intervention in Mali WASHINGTON, Feb 14, 2013 (AFP) - US 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 now organize elections. Speaking ahead of talks with UN 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-Qaeda-linked rebels who had seized the country's north last year and brought in strict Sharia Islamic law. The west African nation imploded after a March coup by soldiers who blamed the government for the army's humiliation at the hands of north African Tuareg rebels, who had launched an uprising in the north two months earlier. With the capital in disarray, Al-Qaeda-linked fighters hijacked the Tuareg rebellion and took control of the north. France launched its intervention on January 11, after Mali's interim government called for help fending off the Islamist insurgents as they began to make incursions into government territory. The United States has provided airlift support for French troops, and worked to train and organize an African-led force which is due to move in to take over from the French. The United Nations said meanwhile Wednesday it was working on a "regional strategy" for the Sahel, the semi-arid region south of the Sahara desert which stretches across a swathe of western Africa, including Mali. jkb/adm