France welcomes Mali decision to accept African intervention force

France on Monday welcomed a decision by the government of Mali to accept a proposal by West African nations in the ECOWAS group to deploy a "stabilisation" force in Mali, presumably to combat Islamic extremist groups that have taken control of a large part of the north of that country. France several months ago said it would support an ECOWAS intervention with logistical help. "France welcomes the accord between the Malian authorities and the ECOWAS concerning the deployment of an African stabilisation operation in Mali," Deputy Spokesman Vincent Floreani said in answer to questions. "This is an important step to answer the precisions called for in the (UN) Security Council in resolution 2056 on Mali," he said. The French official remarked that a high-level meeting on Mali and the Sahel region would be held in New York in two days times on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. ECOWAS has been assembling a 3,200-man force of three battalions of West African troops and this force is soon expected to get the green light to move into the Malian capital, Bamako, after the government there got assurances. The radical forces, led by Al Qaeda for an Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), has held the north for several months and is carrying out abuses against the local population. AQIM and its allies have destroyed centuries-old, precious vestiges, including Mosques and other buildings for not being in conformity with traditional Islam. Foreign fighters are also reported to be among the radicals and executions and other punishments have also been carried out. Floreani said the meeting on Wednesday in New York would examine all the dimensions of the crisis, humanitarian, political, security and development. There is also growing concern that the radicals will seek to spread their control and influence beyond Mali and will threaten neighbouring Mauritania, Niger and even parts of Senegal. Floreani would not expand on French intentions and level of support for the ECOWAS troops, but reports in the French media Monday asserted that France has already sent around 100 Special Forces to train the West African troops. The official also declined to comment on that report. The situation is particularly delicate for France given that AQIM is holding six French hostages, kidnapped in Mali, and who are threatened with death if France supports military intervention in Mali. AQIM has not hesitated to execute hostages in the past, including one French man last summer.