Ansar Dine group in north Mali France is considering a military intervention against extremist groups in north Mali, as the Foreign Ministry declared on Saturday that this solution would be “the most appropriate” to solve the security crisis in the region. Spokesman for the French Foreign Ministry Philippe Lalliot said in a statement that his country sees no difference between the Ansar Dine group -which is currently dominating most of Mali's northern regions- and the al-Qaeda off-shots operating in the Sahel region.
"France supports a political dialogue to find a permanent solution for the crisis in Mali, but this dialogue should take place only between the central governments and the non-terrorist groups," said Lalliot.
Lalliot hailed the efforts exerted by Algeria -Mali's northern neighbour- since 2006 to find a political solution to the internal strife in the west African country, but stressed that the situation in north Mali has reached a point where military intervention seems the most appropriate solution to push the militant groups out of the region.
The press reported a few days ago that Algeria has accepted the French proposal of using military force against the Islamist groups in north Mali, but the Algerian government did not confirm these rumours.
An Algerian official source told Arabstoday that the Algerian army will not take part in any military action in north Mali, nor any foreign troops will be allowed to enter the Algerian territories. The sources added that the Algerian government is yet to give the green light for foreign aircraft to pass through Algeria's airspace as well.
Algeria is believed to fear western intervention in north Mali, as the Algerians fear this intervention will enhance the position of the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad, which calls for separation from Mali's central government.