Russia’s foreign ministry said the international community must ramp up its efforts and stop the tide of violence from rising in Mali.
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called for a more coordinated global response, along with U.N. Special Envoy to Mali, Romano Prodi, during a meeting in Moscow on Friday, the United International Press reports.
“It was agreed that a lack of control over the spread of weapons in the region after the Libya conflict has created the basis for an escalation in tensions throughout the Sahel region, Mr. Lavrov said, according to UPI.
The joint statement did not specify what action the global community should take. French troops have been in Mali for weeks battling Islamist rebels that have taken control of the northern part of the nation. France is planning to withdraw some of its 4,000 troops that are currently in the country, though, UPI reports.
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Cheryl Chumley is a continuous news writer for The Washington Times. Previously, she was part of the start-up team for The Washington Times’ digital aggregation product, Times247. She’s also a 2008-2009 Robert Novak journalism fellow with The Phillips Foundation. She can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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