United Nations: United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon says "dialogue is not possible at this time" with Mali's Islamist insurgents and that the solution to the unrest in the west African country will ultimately depend on political, diplomatic and military means.
The UN chief also praised France's military intervention in Mali on Tuesday, saying, "I applaud France for its courageous decision to deploy troops following the troubling move southward by extremist groups".
Ban called Mali a political challenge and said that, "It was the coup and the collapse of Mali's democracy that opened the way for extremists".
He added that military gains must be matched by efforts to restore full constitutional order and legitimacy in the country.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, January 23, 2013, 08:39