US warns tensions in Mali could spillover

The U.S. State Department on Tuesday warned that the conflict between Tuareg rebels and Islamic extremists in northern Mali could spread across the region. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said the United States has been concerned that the longer the tensions continue, The more extremists begin to exploit the difficulties in Mali and the lack of good governance, the more we could see the danger of a spillover into regional countries." Islamist gunmen fought Tuareg separatist rebels this week in a battle for control of the town of Menaka in Mali's northern desert, close to the border with Niger. The U.S. is working to support a stronger security plan by the Economic Community Of West African States and is looking for a political outreach effort by the Mali government to address Tuareg grievances so they can "peel them off of these extremist elements," Nuland said.