Nigeria moots military intervention in Mali

Abuja, 23 Aug – (ANA) - Military intervention in northern Mali is inevitable if talks with militant Islamists controlling the area fail, Nigeria's leader has warned. President Goodluck Jonathan said a West African force would be deployed, but only with UN approval. The UN has so far refused to endorse military intervention, saying it needed more details about the plan. Alleged atrocities committed in the rebel-held north are being investigated by international prosecutors. Mr Jonathan said the regional body, the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas), would "definitely" send a force to the area if a peace deal is not reached with the Islamist fighters. "Diplomacy and negotiation is first. Military intervention is extreme," he said, during a visit to Senegal. "When negotiations fail, at that time you can talk about military intervention."  Ecowas has asked the UN Security Council to endorse its plan to send 3,000 troops to Mali. The UN has held back saying it needed more details. (ANA)

FA/ANA/23 August 2012----------------