OIC backs Mali military operation

JEDDAH: The Organization of Islamic Cooperation on Wednesday expressed support for the French-led Mali military operation, a day after calling it “premature” and urging a cease-fire.
OIC chief Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu “has reaffirmed the full support and solidarity with the Republic of Mali in its efforts to expeditiously recover areas in the north of its territory under the control of armed groups in order to restore its national unity and territorial integrity,” a statement said.
It said Ihsanoglu reiterated support for the UN Security Council resolution 2085 which authorized the deployment of “an African-led International Support Mission in Mali (AFISMA).”
He welcomed the troop contributions by OIC member states in West Africa, and appealed to others “outside the region to extend all possible form of assistance to AFISMA for the fulfillment of its mandate in order to preserve the peace and stability of the wider region.”
Ihsanoglu on Tuesday called for an “immediate cease-fire in Mali and for all parties to go back to the negotiations which were led by Burkina Faso,” after he described the military offensive which is led by French forces as “premature.”
In his Tuesday statement, he “expressed his deep concern over the military escalation” also called for “maximum self-restraint from all parties at this critical time in order to reach a peaceful solution to this conflict.”
France launched air strikes on Friday to back the Malian army in an operation against Islamist rebels and has sent troops into the West African nation.
It has secured fresh UN backing for its military action and reinforced its ground forces with an armored column after driving militants from their northern bases with air strikes.