Algeria, France back Mali’s unity

ALGIERS, Algeria: French Interior Minister says he agrees with Algeria on the importance of Mali’s territorial integrity and the danger of terrorism in that country.
Mali’s northern half has been taken over by Tuareg tribal separatists backed by Islamist militants, including the North African branch of Al-Qaeda.
Manuel Valls visited Algeria Sunday to discuss the situation in Mali, to the south.
The two countries have disagreed over how to resolve the crisis, with France offering logistical support to a military intervention by West African nations. Algeria has opposed any military intervention.
Valls said at the airport upon his departure that France supported “all political processes that would allow Mali to preserve its territorial integrity.”