Original Article Post Date:
Mon, 05/11/2012
Non-African troops could intervene in Mali: conference
05 November 2012
BAMAKO — Non-African troops could play a role in ousting Islamic radicals from northern Mali, if African leaders agree to such a plan, experts finalising details for the military intervention said Monday.
"If African heads of state agree, there will be non-African troops on the ground to help Mali win back its territory," an African official taking part in the meeting of international experts told AFP on the last day of the conference.
The official who spoke on condition of anonymity did not elaborate on where the troops would come from.
He said that the number of troops sent into Mali by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) "could reach 4,000 instead of the planned 3,000" and would be spread throughout the country.